Israel has said it will not permit the naval blockade to be broken or allow ships to approach an active combat zone.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Sept. 30 urged a convoy of boats seeking to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza to halt its mission, warning it could fuel conflict rather than deliver aid.
Con il piano di pace per il Medio Oriente proposto dal Presidente degli Stati Uniti, Donald Trump, si è finalmente aperta una speranza di accordo per porre fine alla guerra e alla sofferenza della popolazione civile palestinese e stabilizzare la regione. Un equilibrio fragile,…
— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) September 30, 2025
“I fear that a pretext could come precisely from the attempt by the flotilla to break through the Israeli naval blockade,” Meloni said in a statement posted on X.
“I believe that the flotilla should stop now and accept one of the various proposals put forward for the safe delivery of aid. Any other choice risks turning into a tool to prevent peace, fuel the conflict, and thus strike above all at the people of Gaza, to whom relief is said to be brought. This is the time for seriousness and responsibility.”
The Global Sumud Flotilla, about 50 vessels that set sail from Greece in September, includes activists from across Europe as well as Italian and European lawmakers. Organisers say their goal is to “break the illegal siege on Gaza by sea, open a humanitarian corridor, and end the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people.”
Israeli officials have repeatedly said they would not permit any attempt to breach the naval blockade or allow vessels to enter an active combat zone.
After U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled a 20-point peace plan on Sept. 29 to end the conflict in Gaza, Meloni said there was “a hope of agreement,” but the situation remained fragile.
Con il piano di pace per il Medio Oriente proposto dal Presidente degli Stati Uniti, Donald Trump, si è finalmente aperta una speranza di accordo per porre fine alla guerra e alla sofferenza della popolazione civile palestinese e stabilizzare la regione. Un equilibrio fragile,…
— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) September 30, 2025
“The truth is simple: that aid can be delivered safely through the secure channels already in place. To insist on breaking a naval blockade means becoming—whether knowingly or not—instruments of those who want to blow up any chance of a ceasefire,” Meloni said in a follow-up post on Tuesday. “So spare us the moral lessons on peace if your goal is escalation. And do not exploit the civilian population of Gaza if you do not truly care about their fate.”
<Leggo con stupore le parole della Flotilla che mi accusa di considerare “un pericolo” civili disarmati e navi cariche di aiuti.
— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) September 30, 2025
La verità è semplice: quegli aiuti possono essere consegnati senza rischi attraverso i canali sicuri già predisposti. Insistere nel voler forzare un…
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar welcomed Meloni’s stance. He described the flotilla as “orchestrating provocations” on Sept. 30 and reiterated that aid should be transferred via established channels such as the Port of Cyprus or Ashkelon Marina.
Listen to the Prime Minister of Italy @GiorgiaMeloni.
— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) September 30, 2025
The US, Israel, and leaders from the Middle East and around the world are trying to bring an end to the war.
The focus should be on de-escalating, not on orchestrating provocations, such as the Hamas-Sumud flotilla.
It is… https://t.co/6LSWuU3vqb
