Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Pledges to Ensure Safety of Italian Citizens Participating in the "Flotilla of Resilience"
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has promised to take all necessary measures to guarantee the safety of Italian citizens participating in the "Flotilla of Resilience", an initiative aimed at breaking the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. This statement was made by Meloni on Facebook yesterday, Thursday, in response to a question from Elly Schlein, leader of the Italian Democratic Party, regarding the actions the government intends to take to protect its citizens. The number of Italians involved was not specified. "This initiative may have a symbolic or political objective, but the Italian government, as it has always done, will take all necessary measures to ensure the protection and safety of its citizens abroad," Meloni stated. Meloni's comments follow reports in the Israeli press about a plan developed by Israeli National Security Minister, extremist Itamar Ben-Gvir, to sanction participants in the flotilla. According to the Israel Hayom newspaper, this plan includes the immediate seizure of ships and their transfer to the Israeli police. It also includes the detention of activists in conditions similar to those of "security prisoners" in Ketziot and Damon prisons for an extended period.
An International Flotilla
Last Sunday, around 20 ships from the Flotilla of Resilience set sail from the port of Barcelona, Spain, followed by another convoy that departed from the port of Genoa, in northwest Italy, at dawn on Monday. These ships are expected to meet another convoy that will depart from Tunisia before continuing their journey to Gaza in the coming days. Additionally, the "Flotilla of Resilience" announced yesterday that the Italian NGO "Emergency" will send its rescue ship, the "Life Support", to join the flotilla. Measuring 51 meters in length, this ship, usually used to rescue migrants in the Mediterranean, will provide medical and logistical support. The "Life Support" will join the flotilla composed of dozens of boats and hundreds of people from 44 countries, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.
