Defence Minister Guido Crosetto on Wednesday condemned the overnight drone attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla and said he was sending an Italian Navy frigate to the aid of the boats involved.
He added that it was not possible to pin the blame on the attack to Israel, at least for the time being.
"As regards the attack suffered a few hours ago by the Sumud Flotilla boats, which includes Italian citizens on board, conducted via drones by at-the-moment-unidentified perpetrators, one can only express the harshest condemnation," Crosetto said.
"In a democracy, demonstrations and forms of protest must be protected when they take place in compliance with the norms of international law and without recourse to violence.
"I have authorized the immediate intervention of the Navy's Fasan multi-purpose frigate, which was sailing north of Crete as part of 'Mare Sicuro' Operation, to provide assistance to the Italian citizens present on the Flotilla.
