Gaza Aid Flotilla Vessels Targeted by Drones Off Greece

An international fleet of over 50 vessels carrying humanitarian aid and activists bound for Gaza was targeted by a series of drone attacks and explosions in international waters south of Greece, according to flotilla organizers and multiple independent media outlets. The Global Sumud Flotilla, which set sail from Spain in late August, reported that more than 15 drones shadowed and attacked several boats, dropping unidentified objects, jamming communications, and causing at least 13 explosions. Activists on board described the attacks as psychological operations, with some reporting stun grenades and explosive devices deployed against the civilian fleet.

Italy and Spain responded by dispatching naval escorts to the area and publicly condemning the attacks. Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto stated that an Italian navy vessel had been sent to assist the flotilla and denounced the assault on the humanitarian mission. The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights called for an independent and impartial investigation, stressing that those responsible for the violations must be identified and held accountable. The source of the drone attacks remains unconfirmed, with no government or military claiming responsibility.

The flotilla, composed of activists from 44 countries, aims to break the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza, which was further tightened in October 2023 following renewed conflict in the region. Organizers have called on the Greek Coast Guard to protect all vessels and human life within its search and rescue zone, while activists and the New Left party in Greece accused the Greek government of complicity due to its silence and lack of intervention. Israel has previously stated it would not allow the flotilla to reach Gaza and blocked earlier attempts by activists to deliver aid by sea.

The attacks occurred as the United Nations General Assembly convened in New York, where flotilla organizers urged world leaders to take immediate action for Gaza and support a resolution proposed by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, calling for a multinational peacekeeping force in the region. Despite the risks and recent attacks, activists aboard the flotilla have vowed to continue their mission, asserting that such tactics only strengthen their resolve to deliver aid and challenge the blockade.

No casualties have been reported among the flotilla’s passengers or crew, but the incidents have heightened concerns for the safety of those on board and raised questions about the protection of humanitarian missions in international waters. The situation remains tense, with calls for accountability and international oversight intensifying as the flotilla presses forward toward Gaza.