In a related context, several Italian cities witnessed widespread protests on Wednesday evening, with demonstrators gathering in Naples and stopping train services at the main station. This occurred after reports emerged of about 20 unidentified ships approaching in international waters, according to Western media sources. Earlier on Wednesday, the International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza reported that Israeli forces had threatened to stop the ship “Alma,” one of the Freedom Flotilla ships heading to the Gaza Strip to deliver humanitarian aid and break the blockade. In response, the ship’s captain confirmed that the fleet would continue its journey despite the threats. A statement issued by the committee via the “X” platform on Wednesday stated that Israeli boats had surrounded the fleet in international waters, where at least two ships have been intercepted so far. The “Global Resilience” fleet set sail at the beginning of last September to break the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip and deliver humanitarian aid, especially medical supplies, to the area experiencing an unprecedented humanitarian disaster since the crossings were closed in March 2025. The “Global Resilience” fleet faces the risk of interception as Israel has a history of seizing ships heading to Gaza and deporting activists, while the ongoing Israeli war since October 2023 has resulted in the deaths of more than 66,000 Palestinians, most of whom are women and children, amidst famine and the spread of epidemics.
