The Gaza-bound flotilla involving anti-Israel activists and celebrities, including Greta Thunberg, has drawn sharp criticism from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, as Israel watches closely amid fears it could derail Donald Trump’s push for a peace deal.
Meloni warned the flotilla is intended to destabilize Trump’s peace plan, stating on X, “The truth is simple: those aids can be delivered without risks … Insisting on wanting to force a naval blockade means making oneself- Knowingly or not- instruments of those who want to blow up every possibility of [a] ceasefire. Spare us the lesson in morality on peace if your goal is escalation. And do not exploit the civilian population of Gaza if you are not truly interested in their fate.”
The Trump administration has framed its 20-point plan as the path to both ending the war in Gaza and securing the release of Israeli hostages, but the flotilla could shift the narrative back toward confrontation.
The flotilla has drawn international attention not only because of Thunberg’s participation but also because of its European and regional connections. The fleet departed from Barcelona, with activists supported by groups in Spain, which Jerusalem claims is tied to Hamas operative Saif Abu Kashk, who allegedly runs a front company that Israeli intelligence claims controls many of the ships.
At the same time, Turkey says it has been monitoring the flotilla with drones, with Ankara saying it may assist further “on humanitarian grounds.” Turkey has been accused of sheltering Hamas members in the country.
President Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu at the White House as the pair looks to reach a peace deal in the Gaza war. ( Win McNamee/Getty Images)
For Israel, observers say the challenge is to prevent activists from reaching Gaza while avoiding an international incident that could play into Hamas’s hands. As Trump works to lock in a deal, the looming confrontation at sea risks shifting headlines away from diplomacy and back toward conflict.
On Tuesday, Israel released documents tying the flotilla’s organizers to Hamas through the Palestinian Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA). The group, established in Turkey in 2017, has been designated a terrorist organization by Israel and accused of serving as Hamas’s overseas arm.
