Italian Prime Minister urges Greta Thunberg's flotilla to 'stop now' as it makes final approach to Gaza - as Israeli naval troops prepare to board
By Sabrina Penty
Daily Mail
Sep 30, 2025
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (pictured) has urged Greta Thunberg's 'Freedom Flotilla' trying to deliver aid to Gaza to immediately stop their mission
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday called on Greta Thunberg's 'Freedom Flotilla' to immediately stop their mission as it nears the shores of Gaza.
Posting a statement to X on Tuesday, Meloni said that insisting on a confrontation with Israel would upset the current 'fragile balance' that could lead to peace based on a plan proposed by US President Donald Trump aimed at ending the war in Gaza.
'A hope of agreement has finally opened up to end the war and the suffering of the Palestinian civilian population and to stabilize the region. A fragile balance, which many would be happy to disrupt', the Italian PM said.
'I fear that the flotilla's attempt to breach the Israeli naval blockade could provide a pretext for this.
'Also for this reason, I believe the Flotilla should stop now and accept one of the various proposals put forward for the delivery of the aid,' she added.
Meloni also said that any other choice could fuel the conflict in Gaza further.
Her remarks come after the Global Sumud Flotilla said Italy had informed it on Tuesday that the naval frigate shadowing it would soon issue a radio call, offering participants the opportunity to abandon ship and return to shore before reaching a 'critical zone'.
The international flotilla said it would continue to sail onwards with over 40 civilian boats carrying parliamentarians, lawyers and activists including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, aiming to break Israel's blockade of the Palestinian enclave.
Greta Thunberg (right) flashes victory signs from her ship, part of the Global Sumud Flotilla aiming to reach Gaza and break Israel's naval blockade, as they sail off Crete island, Greece, September 25, 2025
Earlier on Tuesday, the Italian defence ministry said its navy would stop following the international flotilla once it reached within 278km of the shore of Gaza.
The flotilla's advance has raised international tensions, especially after a drone attack last week damaged some boats.
No one was injured, but the flotilla had to pause for several days in Greek waters for repairs before setting sail again for Gaza over the weekend.
Organisers said on Monday that the mission was now expected to reach Gaza this week.
Italy warned on Sunday that the flotilla was nearing a high-risk zone and repeated a proposal made last week for the flotilla to take the aid to Cyprus for eventual distribution in Gaza by the Roman Catholic Church.
The flotilla rejected the idea.
The flotilla's advance comes as Israeli forces killed at least 31 Palestinians in the Gaza on Tuesday, local hospitals said, as questions churned about Trump’s peace plan aimed at ending the nearly two-year war in Gaza.
Hamas announced it would review the proposal with group members and other Palestinian factions before reaching a decision.
While the proposal offers an end to the fighting, guarantees the flow of humanitarian aid and promises reconstruction, the Palestinian militant group will have to disarm, something it has rejected in the past.
Also, Gaza and its more than 2 million Palestinians would be put under international governance for the foreseeable future.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu backs the plan, and several leaders of Arab countries have applauded it.
Israel’s campaign in Gaza has killed more than 66,000 Palestinians and wounded nearly 170,000 others, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and militants in its toll, but has said women and children make up around half the dead.
Its campaign was triggered by Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel, in which militants killed some 1,200 people and abducted 250 others.
Most of the hostages have been freed under previous ceasefire deals.
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