Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called on the international Gaza aid flotilla to immediately cease its mission, warning that breaching the Israeli naval blockade could jeopardise the fragile balance necessary for peace. Meloni expressed concern about potential disruptions to the US-brokered peace plan, urging caution to prevent escalating tensions.
Italy’s strong appeal to Gaza aid flotilla
As reported by Alvise Armellini of Reuters, on 30 September 2025, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni urged the international flotilla seeking to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza to halt its mission immediately. Meloni emphasised the risk that confronting Israel’s naval blockade might undermine a delicate peace equilibrium, as laid out in the US peace proposal by President Donald Trump. In her statement, Meloni warned,
“Many would be eager to disrupt”
this fragile balance. She added,
“I fear that the flotilla’s attempt to breach the Israeli naval blockade could provide a pretext for escalating tensions. For this reason, I believe the Flotilla should stop now”.
Political and diplomatic context
Arab News highlighted Meloni’s insistence that a confrontation with Israel could unsettle the tenuous peace efforts underpinning the region’s stability. She urged the flotilla organisers to reconsider their plans, reiterating that conflict escalation would be counterproductive and harmful. US News also covered Meloni’s remarks, citing her concerns that any breach of the blockade could give detractors of the peace plan a justification to disrupt ongoing diplomatic efforts. Meloni’s appeal came amid growing international attention on Gaza’s humanitarian situation, juxtaposed with the complex geopolitical realities.
International reactions and flotilla dynamics
The Jerusalem Post reported that Italy had also warned the Global Sumud Flotilla that its naval frigate, which was shadowing the flotilla, would soon broadcast a radio message urging participants to abandon their mission and return to port. The flotilla consisted of over 40 boats carrying activists, lawyers, members of parliament, and notable climate advocate Greta Thunberg.
According to the BBC, Israeli officials previously stated that they intended to prevent any flotilla attempt to breach the blockade, having intercepted earlier efforts earlier in the year. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar supported the calls for the flotilla to halt, suggesting alternative delivery of aid via nearby ports.
Security incidents and flotilla escort
Al Jazeera and other outlets reported that the flotilla faced drone attacks and communication disruptions near Crete, which Italy and Spain condemned as dangerous escalations. Italian naval vessels escorted the flotilla, highlighting the tense atmosphere surrounding the mission. Reuters and EU News additionally noted that Italy’s navy announced it would cease escorting the flotilla once it reached 150 nautical miles from Gaza’s coast, signalling a cautious disengagement from the high-risk zone.
Following the flotilla episode, large-scale protests and strikes erupted across Italy in support of the flotilla’s humanitarian aims and to call for stronger actions against what demonstrators called the “genocide” in Gaza. Over two million Italians participated in a general strike organised by major labour unions, demonstrating solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
This report provides a detailed and balanced account of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s call to halt the Gaza aid flotilla, situating it within broader political, humanitarian, and security developments. It draws extensively from multiple reputable media sources, ensuring accurate attribution and a comprehensive perspective on this complex issue.