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<h1 class="gmail-reader-title">Global Sumud Flotilla accuses
Italy of sabotage, vows to sail on</h1>
<div class="gmail-credits gmail-reader-credits">Al Mayadeen
English</div>
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<div class="gmail-reader-estimated-time">September 30, 2025</div>
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<p>The Global Sumud Flotilla announced the departure of
its ship Al-Damir from Otranto, Italy, carrying doctors
and journalists toward Gaza, despite pressure from the
Italian navy and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.</p>
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<a
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alt="Ships that are part of the Global Sumud Flotilla heading to Gaza are anchored off the coast of of Sidi Bou Saïd in Tunis, Tunisia, Tuesday, September 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Anis Mili)"
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Ships that are part of the Global Sumud Flotilla
heading to Gaza are anchored off the coast of of
Sidi Bou Saïd in Tunis, Tunisia, Tuesday,
September 9, 2025 (<em>AP </em>Photo/Anis Mili)
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<p><a
href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/global-sumud-flotilla-currently-off-the-coast-of-egypt"
moz-do-not-send="true">The Global Sumud Flotilla</a>
released a statement declaring that the Italian navy
is attempting to sabotage their goal of <a
href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/entire-fleet-heading-to-gaza-to-break-siege--sumud-flotilla"
moz-do-not-send="true">breaking the siege</a>,
preventing humanitarian aid from entering Gaza.</p>
<p>"The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed
that its naval frigate will soon issue a radio call,
offering participants the 'opportunity' to abandon
ship and return to shore before reaching the co-called
'critical zone'" the statement read. </p>
<p>The Global Sumud Flotilla's media centre added, "Let
us be absolutely clear: this is not protection. It is
sabotage. It is an attempt to demoralize and fracture
a peaceful humanitarian mission that governments have
failed to take on themselves, even though it is their
silence and complicity that led to this point." </p>
<p>The statement further stated that if Rome truly
wanted to protect lives, "it would not be acting as
'Israel's' enabler, nor pressuring civilians to
retreat," but would instead use its naval fleet to
ensure the safe passage of the flotilla and aid the
volunteers in delivering life-saving aid to Gaza.</p>
<p>"Instead, it escorts us only to the point of danger,
<a
href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/italy-withdraws-from-gaza-aid-flotilla-as--israel--threat-lo"
moz-do-not-send="true">peeling us away while
'Israel' continues to slaughter and starve the
Palestinian people</a> with impunity," they added.</p>
<p>The group states that "the flotilla sails onward,"
adding that they will not fall back on their moral
responsibility.</p>
<p>"Every nautical mile we sail, every threat we face,
only underscores what governments have failed to do
and what ordinary citizens are now compelled to do,
and doing," they ended the statement.</p>
<p><strong>Read more: <a
href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/italy-s-defense-minister-slams-netanyahu-govt--says-it-must"
moz-do-not-send="true">Italy's defense minister
slams Netanyahu govt, says it must be stopped</a></strong></p>
<h2>Ship Al-Damir moves on despite threats</h2>
<p>The Global Sumud Flotilla announced Tuesday that its
ship Al-Damir, carrying international doctors and
journalists, has departed from the port of Otranto,
Italy, toward Gaza, despite efforts by the Italian
navy to obstruct the humanitarian mission.</p>
<p>Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni urged the
flotilla to halt its journey, claiming that continuing
\u201cmay pose an obstacle to the path of peace.\u201d Earlier,
the Italian navy withdrew from escorting the flotilla.</p>
<p>According to flotilla organizers, Italy\u2019s Foreign
Ministry notified them that the naval frigate
monitoring the mission would soon issue a radio call
offering participants the \u201copportunity\u201d to disembark
and return to shore before reaching what authorities
described as the \u201ccritical zone.\u201d</p>
<p>The flotilla dismissed this as a deliberate attempt
to sabotage their mission. \u201cThis is cowardice
disguised as false diplomacy,\u201d the organizers said in
a statement, accusing Italy of trying to divide and
discourage a peaceful humanitarian effort.</p>
<h2>Flotilla rejects pressure and denounces blockade</h2>
<p>The statement emphasized that all participants are
aware of the risks and remain committed to their
mission. Organizers asserted that the Italian navy
would not derail the effort, stressing that \u201cIsrael\u2019s
blockade is illegal, and the world\u2019s silence is no
longer bearable.\u201d</p>
<p>They added that if Italy were serious about saving
lives, it would use its navy to guarantee safe
passage, uphold international law, and deliver
life-saving aid, rather than pressuring civilians to
withdraw.</p>
<p>The flotilla called on the Italian government to
\u201csail with the flotilla\u201d if it seeks to be remembered
with courage.</p>
<p><strong>Read more: <a
href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/meloni-calls-gaza-flotilla--irresponsible--as-activists-repo"
moz-do-not-send="true">Meloni calls Gaza flotilla
'irresponsible' as activists report attack</a></strong></p>
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