Global Smood Frotira, a fleet of ships carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, moved forward on Thursday despite the government warning of an imminent Israeli attack.
Organizers said the drone was floating above Omar al-Mukhtar, the vessel with a mobile clinic, and confirmed that 12 drone strikes had already hit nine ships.
Italy condemned the strike and sent a second frigate, Fasan, to escort the convoy and joined Spain. Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said the frigate could be a rescue operation. However, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the mission “free, dangerous, irresponsible” and proposed to hand over assistance to the Latin Patriarchs of Cyprus and Jerusalem for childbirth under Israeli oversight.
Organizers rejected requests to offload Italian and Israeli demands at Ashkelon, calling for attempts to tighten lockdowns rather than promoting relief. “Our mission is faithful to our original goal of breaking the illegal siege of Israel and providing humanitarian aid to the besieged population of Gaza,” they said.
Since Israel claimed it lifted its total lockdown in May, only around 70 trucks of aid have entered Gaza every day.
The United Nations has already warned of mass hunger and preventable deaths of children, and declared hunger in parts of the enclave. Flotilla organizers argue that their mission is essential as Israel continues to block proper relief.