Italian President Condemns Attacks on Global Sumud Flotilla Amid Rising Tensions

President of the Council Giorgia Meloni condemned the attacks on Wednesday night against the boats of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which were struck while in international waters off the coast of Crete, Greece. Speaking to reporters in New York during the UN General Assembly, Meloni expressed her unequivocal condemnation of the incident, declaring, "First of all, my condemnation of what happened last night is absolute. However, I want to reiterate what I think about this matter because all of this is gratuitous, dangerous and irresponsible. There is no need to risk one's safety; there is no need to insert oneself into a war zone to deliver aid to Gaza, which the Italian government and the appropriate authorities could have delivered in a few hours." In her remarks, Meloni called for a sense of responsibility, particularly referencing Italian parliamentarians who participated in the Flotilla mission to Gaza, including Italian MEP Benedetta Scuderi and PD deputy Arturo Scotto. According to crew reports, the attacks on the boats were carried out by drones; fortunately, no injuries were reported. The Flotilla boats aim to deliver food and essential goods while attempting to break the Israeli naval blockade. Prior to their departure, Meloni had been mostly silent regarding the initiative, and when she spoke, her responses lacked the definitiveness observed in her latest comments. Following the attacks, opposition parties swiftly criticized the government, arguing that the assault on boats carrying Italian citizens and parliamentarians should be viewed as a deliberate attack on Italy, thus necessitating a stronger governmental response to safeguard the crews. Meloni's stern remarks were a direct reaction to this political turmoil. Despite her criticism of the Flotilla's actions, Meloni confirmed that a ship from the Italian Navy, the Fasan, has been dispatched by Defense Minister Guido Crosetto to the vicinity of the Flotilla boats to provide rescue and assistance if necessary. Crosetto is scheduled to deliver an update in parliament on Thursday, highlighting the seriousness of the situation. The repeated attacks on the Global Sumud Flotilla emphasize the increasing tensions in the region and underline the complex interplay between humanitarian efforts and international relations. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2