Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, has called on Mediterranean countries to ensure the safety of the Gaza-bound 'Global Sumud Flotilla'. In a post on social media platform X, she said that civilian ships attempting to break what she described as Israel’s genocidal blockade of Gaza must be protected. Albanese also urged an end to policies linked to racial discrimination and called for justice.

Earlier, workers aboard the flotilla reported sighting a military vessel near their convoy. At the same time, Israeli media reported that preparations were underway to intercept the flotilla. The appeal from the UN expert comes as tensions rise around efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza by sea.

The situation underscores ongoing concerns over the safety of civilian-led aid missions and the broader humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as reports of Israeli attacks continue to emerge.