Italy and Spain are sending ships to assist a flotilla carrying activists towards Gaza, after they reported being attacked by drones in the Mediterranean.
The crew of the Global Sumud Flotilla said they had heard explosions and seen drones attempt to strike some of their boats off the coast of Greece. There have been several such incidents since the flotilla set sail from Barcelona on August 31.
The group said communications were jammed in an attack it blamed on Israel. "We are witnessing these psychological operations first-hand, right now, but we will not be intimidated," the crew said.
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto condemned the attack on the activists, among them Italian citizens. After talks with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, he ordered the frigate Fasan to sail to the area for "possible rescue operations".
Italy is not a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause, and has so far declined to join Britain, France and others in recognising the state of Palestine. But Ms Meloni's government was under pressure this week as Italians held a nationwide day of strikes and marches against the war in Gaza.
Referring to the flotilla, Mr Crosetto said that "even demonstrations and protests must be protected" when they are non-violent and comply with the law. The aim of the voyage is to break Israel's blockade of Gaza and deliver aid to the people of the enclave.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Spain will also send a patrol vessel to assist the flotilla, or carry out a rescue.
“The Spanish government demands that international law be complied with and that the right of our citizens to navigate the Mediterranean safely be respected,” he said in New York.
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Thameen Al Kheetan called for an investigation.
More than 50 vessels are taking part in the flotilla, most of which are currently off the Greek island of Crete. German human rights activist and flotilla member Yasemin Acar said in a video on Instagram that five vessels had been attacked in the latest incident.
"We are carrying only humanitarian aid," she said. "We have no weapons. We pose no threat to anyone. It is Israel who is killing thousands of people, starving a whole population."
In an earlier video, Ms Acar said the activists had seen 15 or 16 drones and their radios had been jammed.
One video posted on the flotilla's official Instagram page showed an explosion. In another clip, Brazilian activist Thiago Avila said four boats had been "targeted with drones throwing devices" before another explosion was heard in the background.
The group have already been targeted in two suspected drone attacks in Tunisia, where they stopped en route from Spain. Tunisian authorities called those strikes “premeditated aggression”.
Among the high-profile participants on board is environmental activist Greta Thunberg. The activists describe themselves as an independent group not linked to any government or political party.
Israel said on Monday it would not allow the boats to reach Gaza. It has blocked two earlier attempts by activists this year to reach the enclave by sea.
Israel has come under huge international pressure over its war in Gaza, which has sparked a humanitarian crisis in the territory. Last month, a body backed by the UN officially declared famine in parts of the enclave. UN investigators this month also accused Israel of committing "genocide" and Israeli leaders of incitement.
