Crosetto Condemns Drone Attack on Global Sumud Flotilla, Dispatches Italian Navy Frigate

Rome: Defence Minister Guido Crosetto on Wednesday condemned the overnight drone attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla and announced the deployment of an Italian Navy frigate to assist the affected boats.

According to Ansa News Agency, Crosetto stated that it was not currently possible to attribute the attack to Israel. He expressed strong condemnation of the attack, which involved drones and targeted the Sumud Flotilla, carrying Italian citizens among others, by yet unidentified perpetrators.

“In a democracy, demonstrations and forms of protest must be protected when they take place in compliance with the norms of international law and without recourse to violence,” Crosetto emphasized. He has authorized the immediate deployment of the Navy’s Fasan multi-purpose frigate, which was previously sailing north of Crete as part of the ‘Mare Sicuro’ Operation, to provide assistance to the Italian citizens aboard the flotilla.

The frigate is currently en route to the area to potentially conduct rescue operations. Crosetto also mentioned that the Israeli military attach© in Italy, as well as the Italian ambassador and military attach© in Tel Aviv and the Italian foreign ministry crisis unit, have been informed of the situation.