The Global Sumud Flotilla reported on social media that drones dropped chemical substances on some of the ships, and nearby explosions and communication disruptions were also noted. No casualties have been reported.
Maria Elena Delia, the flotilla's spokesperson, said that Italian, British and Polish vessels were among those hit during the several-hour-long attack.
Polish member of parliament and activist Franciszek Sterczewski, who is on board one of the ships sailing under Poland’s flag, said three vessels had been damaged in a series of 13 attacks against 10 boats by 4:30 a.m.
He wrote that a drone hit his ship’s mast with a stun bomb, causing a powerful blast but only minor damage to the sail.
Przed chwilą zaatakowano statek pod polską banderą, na którym płynę. Dron uderzył bombą hukową w maszt. Wybuch był...
Opublikowany przez Franek Sterczewski Wtorek, 23 września 2025
Sterczewski accused Israel of carrying out the strikes, warning that if confirmed, the use of drones against Polish-flagged humanitarian ships in international waters would constitute a violation of both international and Polish law.
The politician pointed to Article 92 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which states that an attack on a ship sailing under a country’s flag is treated as an attack on that state’s territory.
He also called on the Polish government to respond diplomatically, legally and, if necessary, militarily, to protect its citizens and sovereignty.
Atak 🇮🇱 dronów na flotyllę pod polską banderą 🇵🇱, niosącą pomoc humanitarną na wodach międzynarodowych, byłby...
Opublikowany przez Franek Sterczewski Wtorek, 23 września 2025
Pro-Palestinian flotilla still heads to Gaza despite Israeli drone attack
Pro-Palestinian activists, including Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg, have stated that despite disruptions and intimidation attempts, they will not abandon their humanitarian mission. The flotilla aims to break the Israeli blockade and deliver aid to civilians in Gaza.
On Monday, before an incident involving drones occurred, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it would not allow the roughly 20-ship flotilla to break the maritime blockade of the Palestinian territory.
Although the Global Sumud Flotilla is the largest international mission to Gaza, involving dozens of boats and participants from more than 40 countries, Israel says it is “organized by Hamas and serving Hamas.”
“If the flotilla participants’ genuine wish is to deliver humanitarian aid rather than serve Hamas, Israel calls on the vessels to dock at the Ashkelon Marina and unload the aid there, from where it will be transferred promptly in a coordinated manner to the Gaza Strip,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a prior statement, urging compliance with Israeli law.
In a recent statement, Israeli diplomats said the flotilla crew rejected Israel’s offer to offload aid safely at the nearby Ashkelon Marina, opting instead for an illegal route into a conflict zone that violates the naval blockade.
UPDATE: Italy sends support ship after flotilla attacked
According to the latest information from Polish MP Franciszek Sterczewski, Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has dispatched a special vessel to support the Global Sumud Flotilla and strongly condemned the overnight Israeli attack, which damaged, among others, a Polish-flagged ship.
However, there has still been no response from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs or diplomatic services.
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Source: IAR/ANSA/Facebook.com/Franek Sterczewski/X/@GlobalSumudF/@IsraelMFA/@gbsumudflotilla