Crosetto harshly condemns attack on flotilla.Italy's defence minister on Wednesday deployed a navy ship to offer assistance to Italian citizens on board a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying aid following an overnight drone attack.Minister Guido Crosetto harshly condemned the attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), which occurred in international waters off Greece and is the third such incident this month, adding that the perpetrators were yet to be unidentified. “Multiple drones, unidentified objects dropped, communications jammed and explosions heard from a number of boats” - the GSF said in a statement - “We are witnessing these psychological operations first-hand, right now, but we will not be intimidated.” Crosetto said he had authorised the immediate intervention of the navy's Fasan frigate for "possible rescue activities" and to provide assistance to Italian citizens travelling as part of the flotilla. The minister, who reportedly evaluated the decision with premier Giorgia Meloni, added that he had informed the Israeli military attaché in Italy, the Italian ambassador and military attaché in Tel Aviv, and the Italian foreign ministry crisis unit. Crosetto said he would report to parliament on Thursday, stating: "In a democracy, even demonstrations and protests must be protected when they are conducted in compliance with international law and without resorting to violence." The Italian boats travelling with the flotilla, the largest independent initiative to deliver humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, departed from the Sicilian port of Augusta on 13 September. Four Italian centre-left opposition politicians were on board: MEP Benedetta Scuderi of the Green-Left Alliance, MP Arturo Scotto and MEP Annalisa Corrado of the Partito Democratico (PD) and senator Marco Croatti of the Movimento 5 Stelle. On Monday, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Rome and cities across Italy amid a general strike to express solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Photo credit: photostock360 / Shutterstock.com.

Italy's defence minister on Wednesday deployed a navy ship to offer assistance to Italian citizens on board a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying aid following an overnight drone attack. Minister Guido Crosetto harshly condemned the attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), which occurred in international waters off Greece and is the this month, adding that the perpetrators were yet to be unidentified. “Multiple drones, unidentified objects dropped, communications jammed and explosions heard from a number of boats” - the GSF said in a statement - “We are witnessing these psychological operations first-hand, right now, but we will not be intimidated.” Crosetto said he had authorised the immediate intervention of the navy's Fasan frigate for "possible rescue activities" and to provide assistance to . The minister, who reportedly evaluated the decision with premier Giorgia Meloni, added that he had informed the Israeli military attaché in Italy, the Italian ambassador and military attaché in Tel Aviv, and the Italian foreign ministry crisis unit. Crosetto said he would report to parliament on Thursday, stating: "In a democracy, even demonstrations and protests must be protected when they are conducted in compliance with international law and without resorting to violence." The Italian boats travelling with the flotilla, the largest independent initiative to deliver humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, departed from the Sicilian port of Augusta on 13 September. Four Italian centre-left opposition politicians were on board: MEP Benedetta Scuderi of the Green-Left Alliance, MP Arturo Scotto and MEP Annalisa Corrado of the Partito Democratico (PD) and senator Marco Croatti of the Movimento 5 Stelle. On Monday, tens of thousands of protesters in Rome and cities across Italy amid  to express solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Photo credit: photostock360 / Shutterstock.com.