Italian warship to exit Gaza flotilla, activists left to face consequences

On Tuesday, Crosetto made a "last appeal" to flotilla members to accept a compromise proposal to drop aid in Cyprus and avoid a confrontation with Israeli forces. Flotilla representatives have repeatedly refused the offer.

Israel began its Gaza offensive after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel in which some 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken as hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

(Reporting by Alvise Armellini, Angelo Amante and Anna Uras, editing by Alexandra Hudson)