Admin I Thursday, Sept 25, 2025
NEW YORK — A humanitarian convoy, the Global Samud Flotilla, attempting to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza, which was attacked by drones and is now being escorted by Italian and Spanish warships, a dramatic escalation following a previous interception by Israeli forces.
The flotilla, carrying aid and a group of international activists, including Italian and Spanish citizens, reported being targeted during the night by “unidentified drones and communications jamming.”
According to a statement released by the Global Samud Flotilla, “at least 13 explosions” were heard on and around several of the convoy’s boats. The statement also claimed that drones or aircraft dropped “unidentified objects” on at least 10 of the vessels.
This recent incident marks a significant turn in the convoy’s journey, which began with the stated aim of delivering aid and protesting the long-standing Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. A previous attempt by an initial flotilla was intercepted by Israeli naval forces, and the activists on board were detained and later repatriated.
Following the drone attack, Italy and Spain have dispatched warships to the area to provide an escort for the flotilla to its destination in Gaza. The move signals a direct involvement of European naval forces in the ongoing tensions surrounding the blockade, underscoring the international complexity of the situation.
The identities of the drones and the nature of the dropped objects remain unconfirmed. The Israeli government has not yet issued a statement regarding the incident.
The presence of European warships now accompanying the convoy raises questions about potential international repercussions and the future of aid missions to the region.
