Flotilla, several boats intercepted. Tajani: Italians will be taken to Israel and then deported. CGIL and Usb: general strike on Friday

The PD is for abstention on the majority resolution calling for full support for Trump's peace plan for Gaza. According to reports, this is what is emerging from the assembly of the PD parliamentary groups, underway in the Chamber. The proposal was illustrated by the secretary, Elly Schlein, at the opening of the meeting. Among the speeches, also those of reformist exponents, who agreed on the position.

President Gustavo Petro called for the expulsion of the entire Israeli diplomatic delegation from Colombia following the arrest of two Colombian citizens on board the Global Sumud flotilla. 'There goes Israel's diplomatic delegation from Colombia,' he wrote in a post on X.

Hamas is "seriously studying" US President Donald Trump's plan for Gaza, predicting that the movement will accept it "with some reservations". This was stated by Diaa Rashwan, head of Egypt's State Information Service, to Sky News Arabia, adding that Hamas' rejection of the plan would have serious repercussions for the regional situation. The official stressed that any threat to Egypt's national security 'will open the door to a regional hell'.

"Several boats of the Hamas-Sumud Flotilla have already been stopped and their passengers will be transferred to an Israeli port. Greta and her friends are fine": this is what is written on the X account of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, on which a video was published showing a soldier handing a bottle of water to the Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, sitting ashore on the Alma boat.

The Global Sumud Flotilla denounced as an 'illegal attack' the boarding by Israeli forces of a number of ships that make up the humanitarian caravan to Gaza and expressed its willingness to continue and proceed to the coast with the surviving ships.

"On Wednesday 1 October 2025 at around 20:30 Gaza time, several vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla - specifically Alma, Surius, Adara - were illegally intercepted and boarded by Israeli Occupation Forces in international waters. Before illegally boarding the vessels, it appears that Israeli naval units intentionally jammed the vessels' communications in an attempt to block distress signals and interrupt the live broadcast of their illegal boarding," reads a GSF statement.

"In Rome, the A-B/B1 metro station closed by order of the police". This was announced by the Municipality of Rome through its social channels.

'Let's block everything. Let's take to the streets'. Pro-Pal activists, including students and grassroots unions who are starting to gather in Rome's Piazza dei Cinquecento, have begun blocking traffic and occupying the adjacent streets. 'We will block everything for the Flotilla and for Palestine'.

The Minister of Infrastructure and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini is considering the possibility of ordering those who intend to participate in the strike on Friday 3 October, called by CGIL and Usb.

"An important part of the Israeli Navy has been engaged in this operation, to which Israel attaches great importance, they are responding positively to our appeals". This was said by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, interviewed on 'Five Minutes', stressing that "I spoke at length with Israeli Foreign Minister Saar to ask him that there be no acts of violence on the part of the military, just as I asked the spokeswoman of the Flotilla to have a Gandhian attitude, not to resist when they are stopped". "If things go in this direction everything should end with an operation with more dangers, it is important that no one makes mistakes in a delicate phase, but I want to be optimistic," Tajani concluded.

Flotilla activists on the Adara boat threw their phones into the sea after Israeli soldiers came on board, Israeli media report, pointing to images broadcast by the Flotilla itself.

Several boats of the Global Sumud Flotilla, the international flotilla that is bringing humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians, were intercepted by Israeli navy ships, activists report through their channels. The first boat to be intercepted was the Alma, considered to be the 'mother' boat of the flotilla, the Morgana boat reports. The Sirius was also intercepted, they said from the boat Grande Blue. In progress is the interception of the boat Karma, which among others hosts Annalisa Corrado and Arturo Scotto.

The only goal of the Hamas-Sumud Flotilla is provocation'. This is what the post on X by the Israeli Foreign Ministry reads, stating that 'Israel, Italy, Greece and the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem have all offered and continue to offer the flotilla a way to bring any aid they may have for Gaza in a peaceful manner. "The flotilla has refused because it is not interested in aid but in provocation," continues the post in which it publishes the video of the naval officer communicating the warning message in which, the ministry continues, "Israel informed the flotilla that it was approaching an active combat zone and illegally violating a naval blockade.

''At 10 p.m. everyone in the Piazza dei Cinquecento. Let's get it going!'. This is the Usb message that is circulating after the union announced its immediate mobilisation in the wake of the attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla. According to information, people are already gathering in the square in Rome.

The Israeli Navy asked the Sumud Flotilla boats to change course and head for the Israeli port of Ashdod.

"Cardinal Zuppi, informed of what is happening in these hours off the coast of Gaza, renews his appeal that people's dignity be respected and that there be no violence". This is what the Italian Bishops' Conference makes known.

"The idea circulating in the Israeli Navy is that some of the Flotilla's boats will be brought to the port of Ashdod, others may sink them," once the operation is over, "but there is no definite news yet. We have to see how the situation evolves: if someone comes back, it is possible that nothing will happen". Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told 'Cinque Minuti' on Rai Uno. "Then we will see if it will be possible to bring the Flotilla's foodstuffs and deliver them to the civilian population of Gaza. I don't know because things have changed, so it is not certain," he added.

"The rules of engagement of the Israeli Navy are very clear, no acts of violence against the people on board the Flotilla ships. These are very clear provisions that they got from the government. The operation started an hour or so ago and will probably last until midnight-one o'clock. Then very slowly it will proceed towards Ashdod.

The Israeli Navy has given the final stop warning to the Flotilla. The Israeli Foreign Ministry published a video in which a female lieutenant speaks over the radio to the activists, saying they are "approaching a blocked area". The ministry writes on X: 'The sole purpose of the Hamas-Sumud flotilla is provocation. The Israeli Navy contacted the flotilla and asked them to change course. Israel informed that it is entering an active combat zone and violating a legitimate naval blockade. Israel reiterated its offer to transfer any aid in a peaceful manner'.

"I wouldn't call it an attack but a blockade". So said Defence Minister Guido Crosetto to Tg1, regarding the boarding of the Flotilla boats by Israeli forces. Asked whether this affair could influence Trump's peace plan for Gaza, Crosetto replied: 'no, I don't think so'.

Several boats of the Global Sumud Flotilla were 'attacked' according to the tracker that follows the operations of the ships that make up the humanitarian caravan.

Activists had reported the presence of several ships, probably Israeli, in the vicinity of the flotilla, which was now sailing 70-80 miles off the Gaza coast.

Security forces are cordoning off Termini station in Rome where protesters are concentrating after the boarding of the Flotilla. Attention in the station area is also highest after the stoppage in Naples.

"The aggression against civilian ships carrying Italian citizens and nationals represents a fact of extreme gravity". "It is not only a crime against defenceless people, but it is serious that the Italian government has abandoned Italian workers in international open waters, violating our constitutional principles". With these words the CGIL announces, in defence of Flotilla, constitutional values and for Gaza, the national general strike of all public and private sectors for the entire day of Friday, 3 October. During the general strike, says the CGIL, 'indispensable services will be guaranteed, as established by sector regulations'.

"We have instructed the embassy in Tel Aviv and the consulates in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to assist all the Italians who will probably be taken to the port of Ashdod but then they will be deported, I believe there will be a flight that will take them to Europe together with the others". This was said by Antonio Tajani on Tg1 talking about the participants in the Flotilla expedition, stressing that "the boarding" by the Israelis was "expected", "the important thing is that there are no violent actions".

Israeli forces are on board the ship Alma and have detained crew members. This was learned from Flotilla activists. The boat had been one of the first to be isolated and have its communications shielded.

"Global Sumud Flotilla attacked, 3 October general strike, Israel attacks international law. Now is the time to block everything". This was announced by the grassroots union Usb on its channels.

Protesters from the Pro Pal network and students from the Collettivo autorganizzato universitario occupied the platforms of Naples' central station, causing a blockade of incoming and outgoing train traffic. Heavy disruptions for all trains, from Frecciarossa to regional trains. 'Circulation at Napoli Centrale is suspended,' Trenitalia announced. The initiative was triggered after the announcement of the start of the Israeli boarding of Flotilla ships. The students of the Collective have been permanently garrisoning the Faculty of Letters and Philosophy of the Federico II University at Porta di Massa since yesterday evening.

"At the moment 20 boats are coming towards us, some are inside the Flotilla and we do not know their intentions. We are determined to continue, we are heading towards Gaza to break the naval blockade, open a permanent humanitarian corridor and stop". Activists on board the Flotilla say this. "We may lose connection soon," they say, "The call to all is to support the Global Sumud Flotilla, but above all the right to existence of the Palestinian people. We are a self-organised and peaceful flotilla'. The boarding of the Flotilla has begun, with a flanking of the mission vessels.

"Alma is off line, she is the boat Greta Thunberg is on and she has always appeared to be the target boat: Alma could be the first to be boarded. Everyone has their passport with them, we could be split up, we keep sailing, we are on 3 knots taking advantage of the swell'. This was reported by activist Saverio on board one of the Flotilla boats live on Fanpage.

"The boarding has begun". This was made known by Flotilla activists according to whom the boarding 'began from the boat Alma, which is isolated'.

'At 8.25pm (7.25pm Italian time) the halt came from Israel to the Flotilla boats'. This was announced by activists of the Italian delegation of the Flotilla.

Several 'unidentified' boats are approaching the Flotilla. "They are only a few miles from the head of the Flotilla," reports Pd deputy Arturo Scotto, who is on board one of the ships.

"A dozen currently unidentified boats are approaching the Flotilla, they are about five miles away from us". So says Pd MP Arturo Scotto embarked on the humanitarian mission. "The boats are moving slowly," Scotto adds.

"We have learned the news that in a short time we will be intercepted by the IDF and our mission will be interrupted". This was said by Pd deputy Arturo Scotto, on board the Flotilla, in connection with the Pd Federation of Termoli. 'I apologise,' he began, 'but I have to keep the phone free for institutional communications. We have a very delicate situation right now, we are now at 75 miles, we left behind us almost a day ago the red zone border delineated by Israel 150 miles off the coast of Gaza, a border that is completely arbitrary and illegal".

The Global Sumud Flotilla said today that it had passed the point where the Madleen, the Gaza Freedom Flotilla ship whose crew was arrested last June, was intercepted by Israeli ships.

"After a night of intimidation tactics by the Israeli army, we can confirm that the participants of our flotilla remained calm and followed all appropriate security procedures," reads a statement released via Telegram. (Continued)

Turkey evacuated from the boats of the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla 11 activists who had requested assistance, including 3 Turks. "As part of humanitarian aid operations conducted by civilian vessels in the eastern Mediterranean, 11 people, including 3 Turkish citizens, who had requested assistance were evacuated ashore by our Naval Forces," Ankara's Defence Ministry said in a statement reported by state-run Trt TV. Yesterday, the Turkish Armed Forces had stated that 'if necessary' they were ready to provide rescue activities in coordination with international partners.

"The occupation continues in support of the Flotilla, which in these hours is defying the illegal Israeli naval blockade to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza. We recall that international law does not prohibit the Flotilla's humanitarian actions, but condemns those of the Israeli government. Therefore, any action against the Flotilla crews will be met with a firm response from all of us'. These are the words of the secretary of the Young Democrats of Rome, Jacopo Augenti, and the head of the University of Rome's Gd, Pietro Zanaga, in a note from the Faculty of Political Science of the Sapienza University, occupied in solidarity with the Global Sumud Flotilla.

The Gaza Civil Defence reported that at least 46 people were killed today by Israeli attacks and gunfire throughout the Palestinian territory, including 36 in Gaza City.

Mahmoud Bassal, spokesman for the Civil Defence, a relief organisation operating under Hamas authority, reported 36 dead in several attacks on Gaza City in the north of the territory, particularly in the western part of the city. Seven bodies were transferred to al Shifa hospital and 29 to al Maamadani hospital, he said.

"We are 90 miles from Gaza, I think never has an expedition been so close and on such a scale. That is why on the one hand we feel great pride and on the other we feel anger because we are aware that we will not be able to get there". So says Pd MP Arturo Scotto, embarking on the Global Sumud Flotilla. 'We will be intercepted in international waters and we will probably be put under arrest,' he says, 'it would be an illegal act because it takes place in international waters. We will follow the Sumud Flotilla's rules of engagement, which provide for passive resistance'.

In Gaza there are 'amputee children, poor children, once the war is over they will be scarred all their lives, they will have to learn a new life without a foot, a hand or maybe without two hands, the post-war period will be very hard, especially for them'. So says the parish priest of the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza, Father Gabriel Romanelli, commenting on his social profiles on the expectations for the plan for the Strip presented by US President Donald Trump. "We truly hope that this proposal is an agreement that will bring an end to the war," the parish priest says, "and begin a period of true peace based on justice, forgiveness and reconciliation. Saint John Paul II said this, there is no peace without justice'.

"I heard them before starting the press conference and the situation was very calm. It's clear that this scenario is a consequence of all the pressure, otherwise it would have happened already and heavily. But it is certain that sooner or later they will stop them, perhaps already today'. This was said by Maria Elena Delia, the spokesperson for the Italian delegation of the Global Sumud Flotilla, on the sidelines of a press conference at the Chamber of Deputies.

The activists of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which is transporting food and medicine to Gaza, enjoy "diplomatic protection", hoping that Israel "poses no threat" to them. This was said by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez arriving at the informal meeting of EU heads of state and government in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Spanish prime minister assured that his executive is 'in contact' with its members and also 'with other countries that have fellow citizens in these boats' and insisted that 'the compatriots on board will enjoy full diplomatic protection, as is inevitable'. Sanchez then stated that the activists 'do not represent a danger or threat to Israel and, therefore, I hope that Israel, in this case the Netanyahu government, does not represent or pose any threat to this flotilla'.

"It was a feeling of abandonment, a rescue ship would have pleased us since we are going to have accidents and maybe someone will even get hurt". So said Flotilla spokeswoman Maria Elena Delia during a press conference at the Chamber of Deputies on the announcement of the Navy ship Alpino that it would not be accompanying the fleet any further.

"150 miles" off the Gaza coast "are still international waters, that is not a war zone. The zone 'declared a war zone' by Israel, is the 12 miles in front of Gaza, and then that too can be discussed. At 150 miles to see our ship (Alpino, of the Italian Navy, ed.), which should have given us rescue, say 'go back' was not a good feeling, it did not increase trust in those who should protect us'.

"We will not allow CGIL and left-wing extremists to bring chaos to Italy. We will not tolerate any 'sudden general strike''. Thus on X League leader Matteo Salvini on the general strike announced by CGIL secretary Landini in the case of blocking the Flotilla.

"The government has now stated with unequivocal clarity that we have been advising against any travel to Gaza for ten years. Follow that call. Then I heard that Italy is saying the same thing. More and more countries are looking with great concern at the extreme risks people are exposing themselves to by going there. Go back home. Do not visit Gaza". So says Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, arriving at the Copenhagen summit in response to a question about the Flotilla and the participation of his fellow citizen, Greta Thunberg. Should he be prevented from going to Gaza? 'Yes, without a second's hesitation,' he remarked.

"Voices are being raised from all sides calling for a halt to this Hamas-Sumud provocation. It is not too late. Please deliver any aid in your possession peacefully through the port of Cyprus, the Ashkelon navy or any other port in the area to Gaza." This is the appeal by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar to the Flotilla after the joint appeal by Greece and Italy to accept a compromise and deliver aid for distribution via the Church.

Hamas has asked the mediators to make some changes to President Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza. This was reported by the Saudi Al-Sharq channel, citing informed sources. The demands concern the clauses on disarmament, the exile of the leadership, and the need to obtain guarantees for a complete withdrawal of the IDF. A source told the broadcaster that meetings were held yesterday in Doha with representatives of Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who "encouraged Hamas to accept the proposal. Hamas has made it clear that international guarantees are needed. It needs 2-3 days to define its position'.

The Israeli army confirmed that it had taken 'operational control' over the western part of the Netzarim Corridor in the central Gaza Strip, preventing Palestinians from returning to Gaza City.

Yesterday, the army says, the 99th Division launched a ground operation aimed at "strengthening and maintaining operational control over the Netzarim Corridor. The troops operated to hinder the operational capabilities of the Hamas terrorist organisation in the area and to expand operational control in the sector," the army adds, as reported by Times of Israel.

The plan presented by US President Donald Trump "for peace in Gaza" was the focus of a "long telephone conversation" that Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani had with his Turkish colleague, Hakan Fidan. This was reported on X by the Farnesina titular himself, specifying that Italy supports "the mediation efforts of Turkey and other regional partners to convince Hamas to accept the peace plan". "It is time to put an end to hostilities, to guarantee humanitarian assistance to the civilian population and to favour a lasting political solution that envisages the construction of a Palestinian state," Tajani continued, pointing out that Italy and Turkey "are closely following the events of the Flotilla heading for Gaza. The priority remains to avoid escalation".

"In the face of a possible blockade, kidnappings, arrests - and I hope to stop here - we are ready to proclaim, in a timely manner, a general strike that will affect all workers, all workers, of all public and private sectors" So said Maurizio Landini, leader of the CGIL, at a conference room underway at the Chamber, regarding the Flotilla en route to Gaza. 'An act of that nature in international waters would be an act of war against those who want to carry out a mission to reaffirm peace,' Landini stressed, adding that 'all people will be asked to take to the streets'.

Portuguese MP from the Left Bloc, Mariana Mortágua, on her way to Gaza in the Global Sumud Flotilla, rejected the proposal of her country's foreign minister to use the Italian Navy to abandon the mission. "We received an email from the minister talking about the existence of an agreement with the Italian government on an alleged protection of Portuguese citizens, but that this protection depends on abandoning the mission," Mortágua said in a video sent to Portuguese media, continuing, "No one asked for anything like this and the proposal is unacceptable."

"Gaza has had enough of blood, tears and destruction. This shame must end immediately'. This was stated by the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in his speech on the occasion of the resumption of parliamentary work. "It is the duty of the Islamic world and the international community to bring the Palestinians of Gaza the lasting peace they deserve," Erdogan continued, assuring that "our struggle will continue until an independent, sovereign and territorially intact State of Palestine is established, based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital." The Turkish leader went on to say that he believes 'with all his heart that we will see wonderful days when peace, prosperity and security will prevail from the river to the sea in Palestine'.

"It is a phase in which everyone should understand that exercising a responsibility, waiting while there is a peace negotiation, is perhaps the most useful thing one can do to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinians, but perhaps the suffering of the Palestinian people was not the priority". So said Giorgia Meloni when asked about the Flotilla case on the sidelines of the EU summit.

- "We are in contact with the Flotilla and the other countries" involved, "we are talking about people, we remember that it is a humanitarian mission that would not have taken place if Israel had allowed aid to enter" Gaza. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said this on the sidelines of the EU summit. "The Flotilla does not represent a danger or a threat to Israel, so I hope Netanyahu will take this into account," he stressed.

"Italy and Greece are closely following the developments of the Global Sumud Flotilla and appeal to the Israeli authorities to guarantee the safety and security of the participants and allow any consular protection action". This is what is stated in a joint statement by the heads of diplomacy of the two countries.

"We, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Italian Republic and the Hellenic Republic, call on the women and men of the Flotilla to accept the readiness offered by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem to safely deliver aid in solidarity with the children, women and men of Gaza," it reads.

The Spanish government has expressly advised the Global Sumud Flotilla not to enter the exclusion zone established by the Israeli army as doing so 'would seriously jeopardise its security'. This was reported by the Madrid media. An advice that was not accepted by the activists. Spain sent the military ship Furor with the priority of guaranteeing the safety of the activists, but at the same time the executive stressed that 'under no circumstances' will it send boats into the exclusion zone established by the Israeli army. "The flotilla's mission is praiseworthy and legitimate, but the lives of its members must take priority," the Spanish government told Flotilla members, according to Moncloa sources. Madrid also informed the activists that the ship sent by Spain "will not be able to enter the exclusion zone established by the Israeli army as this would endanger the physical safety of its crew and the flotilla itself".

The Copasir has also moved with respect to the Global Sumud Flotilla and is following the events related to the mission of the activists who are now sailing towards Gaza. According to Adnkronos, in fact, the Parliamentary Committee for the Security of the Republic has requested and received updates on the evolution of the situation from Aisi and Aise.

David Adler, one of the activists who is part of the Flotilla and co-coordinator-general of Progressive International, an international organisation of progressive political organisations, explains on X that last night's threats to the ships 'are a foretaste of what we have long feared: illegal kidnapping by Israel in international waters'. "We are preparing for such an imminent attack. We know the procedures. We know the protocols. When they board our boats, we will not resist. We are ready."

Members of the political wing of Hamas met with officials from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey in Doha as part of the militant group's discussions on a US peace plan for Gaza, according to a source close to the matter. Bloomberg reports.

The Hamas delegation told officials that it is closely examining the 20-point plan announced by US President Donald Trump on Monday, the source added. Hamas is preparing to respond after clarifying some technicalities and consulting with other Palestinian factions, with the aim of ending the two-year war in Gaza between Hamas and Israel.

A Flotilla boat was this morning 'aggressively surrounded' by an Israeli warship, the Global Sumud Flotilla said in a note, picked up by Sky News. According to reports, the captain of one of the leading boats was forced to make an abrupt manoeuvre to avoid a head-on collision. On-board communications were remotely disabled as the warship proceeded 'dangerously close' for several minutes. According to the Flotilla, the ship then harassed another vessel in the flotilla with similar manoeuvres.

"During the course of the night, several Israeli military vessels encircled the Flotilla, obstructing radio communications with jamming techniques. The ship Sirius, which took over from the Alma as an opener, reported the sighting of an Israeli submarine diving along the route". This is according to the Global Sumud Flotilla, which is continuing its navigation towards Gaza and is currently "about 27 hours away from the coast maintaining a constant speed of 5 knots".

At least 17 people have been killed since dawn in attacks in the Gaza Strip, according to Gaza hospital sources. This was reported by Al Jazeera.

"We are 130-135 miles off the coast of Gaza. At the moment we have had no alt signals from Israel but we are on permanent alert'. This was said by Pd MP Arturo Scotto, who is taking part in the Global Sumud Flotilla mission. "We are aware that on the day we could be approached for boarding."

"Unidentified boats approached several Flotilla boats during the night, some with their lights off. The participants applied security protocols in preparation for a possible boarding. The boats have now moved away from the Flotilla'. Italian spokesperson for the Global movement to Gaza, Maria Elena Delia, explained. "We continue to sail towards Gaza, approaching the 120-nautical-mile limit," she adds, "near the area where the previous flotillas were intercepted and attacked.

Qatar, Egypt and Turkey are pressing Hamas to accept the proposal put forward by US President Donald Trump to end the war in the Gaza Strip. The Axios website reports this, citing two sources familiar with the talks, according to which the three mediating countries believed to be closest to Hamas have met with the Palestinian group's leaders twice in the past 24 hours.

Yesterday, Trump declared that Hamas has 'three or four days' to respond to his proposal.

The Italian Navy's frigate Alpino issued the second and final official warning to all vessels in the Global Sumud Flotilla at the 150-nautical-mile limit from the coast of Gaza. The ship has announced that it will not cross this limit. Since the first warning, issued at 16:30 yesterday, the Alpino had said it was willing to "retrieve any personnel who wished to be transferred on board".

Within hours of the announcement of the Trump plan for Gaza in Washington come the reactions of Arab and Muslim countries, Palestinian and Israeli actors, and European leaders. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar and Egypt issued a joint statement welcoming Trump's efforts to end the war in Gaza, saying they are ready to "cooperate positively" with the US to finalise the agreement and ensure its implementation. Sky News reports. "The foreign ministers welcome Trump's announcement on the proposal to end the war, rebuild Gaza, prevent the displacement of the Palestinian people and promote a peace, as well as his announcement that he will not allow the annexation of the West Bank."