Italy’s government joins a chorus of international condemnation as Rome demands the immediate release of its citizens, aboard the Global Sumud flotilla, illegally detained in international waters. The developing situation takes a new turn with Israel’s announcement that activists will be brought ashore in Greece.
Premier Giorgia Meloni swiftly and unequivocally condemned Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla in the Mediterranean. She summoned a crisis meeting with her most senior ministers on Thursday morning as details emerged of 24 Italians among those detained when Israeli forces boarded aid vessels in international waters off the Greek coast Wednesday night.
“The Italian government condemns the seizure of the Global Sumud Flotilla vessels, which occurred last night in international waters off the coast of Greece, and calls on the Israeli government to immediately release all the Italians illegally detained, fully respect international law, and guarantee the physical safety of those on board,” a statement from Palazzo Chigi said.
The premier convened an early morning meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto and Cabinet Secretary Alfredo Mantovano. The government also reiterated its “commitment to continue providing humanitarian aid to Gaza within the framework of our cooperation and in compliance with international law.”
The detained Italians
Of the 57 Italians participating in the Spring 2026 flotilla mission, 24 were among those seized when Israeli forces intercepted 22 of the 58 boats involved in the mission overnight. The flotilla’s Italian legal team said Thursday that activists had been detained some 150 nautical miles from Crete and 600 miles from the coast of Gaza. “It is extremely serious that activists detained 150 nautical miles from Crete and 600 miles from the coast of Gaza are being taken to Israel,” the legal team said. Subsequent developments have altered that picture.
Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar announced on Thursday that, in coordination with the Greek government, the civilians transferred from flotilla vessels to Israeli vessels would be brought ashore in Greece in the coming hours.
The Italians detained have not yet been released at time of publication.
An International Outcry
Italy is far from alone in its condemnation. Spain said it was “doing everything necessary to protect and assist the detained Spaniards” and its foreign ministry said it “energetically condemns” Israel’s seizure of the flotilla. Madrid summoned Israel’s chargé d’affaires to convey its formal protest. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry condemned the seizure as “an act of piracy,” saying Israel had violated humanitarian principles and international law. Hamas called for the release of those detained.
Amnesty International called for the immediate and unconditional release of detained activists, demanding that Israeli authorities ensure all activists receive consular support and are protected from torture and ill-treatment. Amnesty has recorded ill-treatment and abuse of activists from the October 2025 interception, including sleep deprivation and denial of drinking water and medical care. In Italy, those abuses against 36 Italian activists from the earlier mission are currently being investigated by prosecutors in Rome, including on allegations of torture.
The flotilla’s organisers described the operation as an assertion that Israel can act “with total impunity, far beyond its own borders, with no consequences.” The organisation added, “No state has the right to claim, police, or occupy international waters. Yet that is exactly what Israel has done, extending its regime of control outward, occupying the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Europe.”
The opposition has moved quickly to extract political accountability from the government. The Democratic Party, the Five Star Movement, Italia Viva and the Green-Left Alliance jointly filed a request in the Senate on Thursday calling on Meloni, Tajani and Crosetto to report urgently to parliament on the flotilla interception and Italy’s response.
