Italy Dispatches Navy Ship To Aid Global Sumud Flotilla After Drone Attack

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 (Bernama) –  Italy has dispatched a navy frigate to aid Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) boats that came under drone attack overnight in international waters off Greece, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said Wednesday.

According to the Italian news agency ANSA, Crosetto said he had authorised the immediate intervention of the navy’s Fasan multi-purpose frigate, which was sailing north of Crete as part of the Mare Sicuro operation, to provide assistance to Italian citizens present on the flotilla.

“The frigate is already heading to the area for possible rescue activities,” he said.

Crosetto expressed his “harshest condemnation” of the attack after GSF boats carrying activists, including Italian citizens, came under drone fire from unidentified perpetrators.

“In a democracy, demonstrations and forms of protest must be protected when they take place in compliance with the norms of international law and without recourse to violence,” he said.

Meanwhile, Maria Elena Delia, the Italian spokesperson for the mission said boats from Italy, England, and Poland were hit, calling it "an attack on the three countries" and "a very serious episode, which sets a precedent”, ANSA reported.

“We hope that political world will intervene. We were attacked by at least 15 drones,” she said.

The GSF, which is sailing across the Mediterranean Sea carrying food, medicine, and messages of peace, is scheduled to arrive in Gaza waters at the end of this month.

The historic mission involves more than 1,000 volunteers from around the world, including 34 Malaysians, aboard nearly 70 boats aiming to break the siege on Gaza.

-- BERNAMA