Activists gather to support a flotilla carrying humanitarian aid and activists vowing to try "to break the siege of Gaza". Photo / Pascal Pochard-Casabianca, AFP
The United Nations has called for an investigation into alleged drone attacks against a Gaza-bound aid flotilla that forced Italy to send a frigate to help.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, carrying scores of activists including Swedish environmentalist Greta Thunberg, blamed Israel for more than a dozen explosions heard around the flotilla off Greece.
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said anyone responsible for the “violations” should be held accountable, and called for an “independent, impartial and thorough investigation”.
The flotilla set sail from Barcelona this month with the aim of breaking the Israeli blockade of Gaza and delivering humanitarian aid.
Israel, which halted two previous attempts by activists to reach Gaza by sea in June and July, has said it will not allow the flotilla to reach the Palestinian territory.
Foreign ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein told AFP it was an “active combat zone” under “lawful naval blockade”.
“If their intentions are sincere, they should transfer any such aid to the nearby Ashkelon Marina so it can be forwarded promptly to the Gaza Strip in a non-violent manner,” he said.
The ministry added in a later message on X that the flotilla could unload aid “at any port in a nearby country outside Israel” for transfer to Gaza.
The flotilla accused Israel of endangering more than 500 unarmed civilians, and Thunberg labelled it a “scare tactic” that was “not going to stop us”.
“We are sailing peacefully in international waters. We are not carrying weapons. We are carrying food, baby formula, medical supplies and water,” she said in an interview on the flotilla’s Instagram account.
The activists said damage had been caused by “unidentified objects” dropped on deck and accused Israel of “the deployment of explosive and incendiary devices, deliberate dispersal of chemical substances onto civilian vessels”.
Italy dispatched a frigate that was already in the eastern Mediterranean to provide protection for the flotilla, which is also carrying Italian activists and members of parliament.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the drone attacks but also said the flotilla was a “dangerous, irresponsible” initiative to deliver aid that could be transported by her government in just a few hours.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Madrid would on Thursday dispatch a navy ship as well “to ensure that, if necessary, our citizens can be rescued”.
“I want to make it clear to the government of Israel that Spain will, of course, protect its nationals, and we will do so both diplomatically and politically,” he added.
The Global Sumud Flotilla currently numbers 51 vessels, most of which are off the Greek island of Crete.
Vessels waiting to join the flotilla had already been targeted in two suspected drone attacks in Tunisia.
The Greek coastguard told AFP that a patrol boat from the EU borders agency Frontex was directed to the area “in response to a report of a threat” to a Polish-flagged boat, but the crew said “they did not require assistance”, so it left.
The European Commission said the freedom of navigation under international law “must be upheld”.
“No attacks, no drone strikes, no seizures or any use of force against the flotilla is acceptable,” said commission spokesperson Eva Hrncirova.
The Sumud Flotilla describes itself as an independent group not linked to any government or political party. Sumud is Arabic for “resilience”.
New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) said “the safety of New Zealanders is paramount” amid reports of a Kiwi being on board the flotilla.
Sam Leason, 18, told RNZ’s Checkpoint that although it was dark when the attacks took place, he was sure drones were to blame.
“I think nine boats got hit by bombs and other liquids... flammable liquids. I think 12 different things were dropped on nine different boats... It was red alert, all crazy, it was a pretty scary time.”
The attacks appeared to be made in an effort to slow the boats down and scare those on board, rather than to physically harm the sailors, Leason told RNZ.
MFAT stated that it was aware of reports indicating drones were targeting some boats participating in the flotilla and was closely monitoring the situation.
“New Zealand has a long-standing ‘do not travel’ advisory in place for Gaza.
“The advisory explicitly warns New Zealanders against any attempt to enter Gaza by sea in breach of Israeli navy restrictions, including participation in flotillas to deliver aid.”
MFAT said the safety of New Zealanders “is paramount”.
“We expect any New Zealanders in the flotilla to be treated in a manner consistent with international law and have communicated this directly to Israel.”
“Consular support is available to any New Zealanders on board if they request assistance.”
Israel has launched a major air and ground offensive on Gaza City in a bid to root out Hamas, exacerbating humanitarian conditions in the territory.
After nearly two years of war, Israeli military operations have killed at least 65,419 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, figures the UN considers reliable.
Hamas’s October 2023 attack that sparked the war resulted in the deaths of 1219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.
-Agence France-Presse, with additional reporting by NZ Herald