The Global Sumud Flotilla entered the zone where it is at risk of being intercepted by Israeli forces overnight but at the time of writing the boats seeking to take aid to Gaza had not been stopped.

“We are 130-135 miles off the coast of Gaza,” said Arturo Scotto, an MP for the opposition, centre-left Democratic Party (PD) who is taking part in the mission.

“At the moment we have had no halt signals from Israel, but we are on permanent alert.

“We are aware that in the day we could be approached for boarding”.

The Italian government and President Sergio Mattarella had appealed to the flotilla to stop before leaving international waters to avoid putting human life in danger, calling in the activists to accept an offer from the Catholic Church for it to get the aid the boats are carrying to Gaza.

Premier Giorgia Meloni reiterated the appeal on Tuesday, arguing the flotilla initiative could put US President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza in danger.

“Unidentified boats approached several flotilla boats in the night, some with their lights off,” said Maria Elena Delia, the flotilla’s Italian spokeswomen, early on Wednesday.

“Participants have applied security protocols in preparation for a possible boarding.

“The boats have now moved away from the flotilla.

“We continue to sail toward Gaza, approaching the 120-nautical-mile limit, near the area where previous flotillas were intercepted and attacked”.