Gaza, Flotilla rejects Italian mediation and leaves Crete. Israel: “No one will violate naval blockade”

Brussels – There is growing apprehension about the fate of the crews of the Global Sumud Flotilla. Today (26 September), several boats are expected to leave Koufonisi, a small island southeast of Crete, for Gaza. There are about 500 nautical miles to go to the Israeli naval-guarded waters in front of the Palestinian exclave. The Flotilla has so far rejected calls to unload aid in Cyprus and turn back, despite threats from the Israeli government. 

The last authoritative intervention was that of the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, who asked “the women and men of the Flotilla” to “receive the willingness offered by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem to carry out the task of safely delivering what solidarity has destined for the children, women, and men of Gaza.” Mattarella praised the “value of the initiative,” which was “expressed with broad resonance and significance.” 

However, the hastily drawn-up mediation plan by the Italian government, which would involve delivering the aid on board the humanitarian boats to Cyprus, to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, transferring it to Israel, and finally delivering it to Gaza by the Israeli authorities, was rejected by the activists. “We cannot accept this proposal because it comes to prevent our boats from sailing in international waters with the risk of being attacked,” explained the Flotilla’s spokeswoman for Italy, Maria Elena Delia. Specifying that “the question of aid is very important” and that “we are ready to consider mediations, but not changing course because it means admitting that we are letting a government operate illegally without being able to do anything.” 

In a note released yesterday, the Tel Aviv Foreign Ministry warned that “Israel will not allow ships to enter an active combat zone and will not allow the violation of a legitimate naval blockade.” Minister Gideon Sa’ar then attacked the Flotilla, whose “real purpose is to provoke and serve Hamas.” Israel claims to have “offered several options for unloading the aid,” even inviting the ships to dock at the port of Ashkelon, a few kilometres north of Gaza, “from where it would be transferred in a timely and coordinated manner to the Strip.”

Antonio Tajani and Guido Crosetto [Imagoeconomica]

What Sa’ar does not clarify is where the repeated attacks on humanitarian boats come from. The last ones, on the night of 23-24 September, prompted the Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto to flank the Flotilla with a frigate of the Italian navy, stating that it would be used for “possible relief, assistance, and protection”, and not for military purposes. The Spanish government did the same shortly afterwards, specifying that the military ship setting sail from Cartagena would be exclusively for rescue and relief, and not for military escort. Among the more than 600 individuals embarked with the Flotilla, there are approximately fifty Italian citizens, including two female MEPs and two members of the Italian Parliament, and at least as many Spanish citizens. 

Crosetto, speaking in the Chamber of Deputies, warned: “The Flotilla is 450 miles from the dangerous point, which is the exit from international waters. At that point, no one will be able to guarantee safety and help in case something happens.” Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, in an interview with Corriere della Sera, said that “entering Gaza waters is completely inadvisable.” Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, in New York for the UN General Assembly, was very cold towards the humanitarian operation, arguing that “all this is gratuitous, dangerous, and irresponsible” and that “one cannot take actions that seem to have been done on purpose to get the Italian government into trouble.” 

Democratic Party MEP, Marco Tarquinio, pointed out that Crosetto “forgets to say that the waters of Gaza are not Israeli, but Palestinian,” and that they are “occupied and used by force by Israel in defiance of international law.” The land, air, and sea blockade on Gaza was imposed by Israel in 2007, following Hamas’ seizure of power in the Strip, and has never been lifted. From the ship Morgana, one of the 45 Flotilla boats ready to set sail from Crete, Green and Left Alliance MEP Benedetta Scuderi addressed “a profound thank you” to Mattarella for underlining the importance of the mission and attacked those who, “like Prime Minister Meloni, spoke of irresponsibility.” Scuderi also launched an appeal to Mattarella: “We ask him to support the request to open humanitarian corridors under UN control.” 

Avs and Green Party MEP Benedetta Scuderi [credits: Margherita Dametti – Global Movement to Gaza Italian delegation]

Yesterday, 58 MEPs sent a letter to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to call for urgent action by Frontex. “This agency by statute coordinates and supports search and rescue operations at sea, alongside the authorities of the Member States, using drones and aircraft to monitor vulnerable and at-risk vessels, exactly as is the case with the 50 Flotilla boats,” argues Danilo Della Valle, MEP of the 5 Star Movement and signatory of the letter along with members of the Socialists, Greens, and Left. 

In Brussels, sources explain that to deploy the EU Border and Coast Guard Agency, its mandate would need to be changed. In short, to go through the Member States, wasting time, while the Flotilla is a week away from Gaza. The European Commission sits on the fence, worried, calls the attacks on the humanitarian boats “unacceptable” and timidly sides with the Flotilla. The Greek Foreign Minister, Giorgos Gerapetritis, though downplaying the drone attacks, stated that there will be a thorough investigation to determine what happened. If Athens confirms that these incursions into European territory originate from Israel, then someone in Brussels will have to raise their voice. Just as much as is being done about drones flying over Copenhagen and Oslo airports.