The Sumud Flotilla heading to Gaza is calling on Italy’s far-right government under Giorgia Meloni to ensure the protection of its activists, after Israel’s National Security Minister threatened to brand participants as terrorists—a demand now backed by opposition parties across Italy.

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Maria Elena Delia, spokesperson for the Flotilla in Italy, told EFE: “Our governments have a duty to protect their citizens—people who are doing nothing wrong. Our mission is to reopen a humanitarian corridor and put an end to the genocide officially recognized as such, along with Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine.”

Delia stressed that the flotilla’s actions are fully legal, nonviolent, and grounded in international law. She warned that any attempt by Israel to arrest participants would amount to “kidnapping,” adding: “It is absurd to call men and women terrorists for trying to bring food and medicine to a population pushed to the brink of survival.”

On Sunday, five ships set sail from Genoa and La Spezia, carrying 300 tons of humanitarian aid to Catania, Sicily, as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla—the largest civilian mission ever organized to deliver essential supplies to the Palestinian people and establish a humanitarian corridor in Gaza.

Meanwhile, in Sicily, fifteen more vessels with nearly 200 activists are preparing to join the mission, undergoing mandatory training in nonviolent conduct, communication, and legal guidance for humanitarian operations, Delia explained.

Italian opposition figures have rallied in support of the flotilla. Elly Schlein, leader of the Democratic Party (PD), urged the Italian government, EU institutions, and European governments to reject Israeli threats and defend the activists. “The only illegal acts here are the crimes of Netanyahu’s government,” she said. “We stand with the flotilla, and Italy must defend its citizens taking part in this mission.”

Giuseppe Conte of the Five Star Movement (M5S) called on Meloni to act decisively to “stop this horror” and safeguard Italian participants. Riccardo Magi of More Europe demanded that the government openly support the flotilla and ensure help for those carrying out this humanitarian work.

The mayor of Genoa, Silvia Salis, whose city dispatched the first 300 tons of aid, sent a letter to Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani, expressing concern over statements made by Zionist minister of National Security Itmar Ben Gvir.

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