Israeli Forces Blockade Gaza Aid Flotilla; Italian FM Urges Safety for Nationals
The Israeli military forcibly blockaded the "Global Sumud Flotilla" aid convoy to Gaza on the 19th. Twenty-nine Italians aboard one of the ships were taken to the southern Israeli city of Ashdod. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called on Israel to ensure the safety of its citizens. According to reports, the Israeli navy fired upon the flotilla, which was intended to deliver humanitarian aid. Israel denied using live ammunition, admitting only to using non-lethal weapons for warning purposes and stating there were no injuries. The flotilla's mission was forced to halt.
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- 📰 Published: May 20, 2026 at 08:26
- 🔍 Collected: May 20, 2026 at 08:31 (5 min after Published)
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(CNA, Rome, 19th, by reporter Huang Ya-shih) The Israeli military today forcibly blockaded the "Global Sumud Flotilla" bound for Gaza, which included an Italian vessel. The 29 Italians on board were taken to the southern Israeli city of Ashdod. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has called on Israel to ensure the personal safety of the Italian nationals. Italy's ANSA news agency reported that Israel blocked all vessels of the "Global Sumud Flotilla" heading to Gaza. Today, when some of the boats reached within 100 nautical miles of the Gaza Strip, they were allegedly fired upon by the Israeli navy. One of the vessels had a crew composed mostly of Italians, including Dario Carotenuto, a member of parliament from the Five Star Movement (M5S), a 77-year-old doctor, as well as journalists, students, and workers. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani issued a press release stating that he had instructed the Italian ambassador to Israel to formally request the Israeli government to ensure that all Italian citizens participating in the Gaza flotilla are treated with respect and that their personal safety is guaranteed. Tajani also called for an urgent investigation into the Israeli authorities' use of force. According to Italian activists, the Israeli authorities used rubber bullets against the flotilla. The report notes that Israel denied using live ammunition but acknowledged using "non-lethal weapons against the vessels, not the protesters, for warning purposes," and emphasized that "no one was injured." The report stated that the "Global Sumud Flotilla" launched this operation to deliver humanitarian aid and draw international attention to the tragedy in Gaza. The flotilla, consisting of 54 ships carrying 426 activists from 39 countries, departed from Turkey. A previous group of ships had already been intercepted near Cyprus, and today, all activists, including those on the Italian vessel, were intercepted and taken away, forcing the mission to be aborted.