“Greece and Italy are closely monitoring developments regarding the Global Sumud Flotilla and call on the Israeli authorities to ensure the safety of the participants and to allow all measures of consular assistance to be provided,” a joint statement by the Foreign Ministers of Greece and Italy reads, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

The statement added the following: “We, the Foreign Ministers of the Hellenic Republic and the Italian Republic, appeal to the women and men of the flotilla to accept the proposal of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem to undertake the safe delivery of aid as an expression of solidarity with the children, women, and men of Gaza. Thanks to the diplomatic initiative of US President Donald J. Trump, a tangible opportunity to end this violent conflict and the suffering of the Palestinian population is presented, for the first time, including through full access to humanitarian aid.”

The joint statement concludes by stating: “Greece and Italy reiterate the need for humanitarian access to Gaza, as well as for a ceasefire to be reached as soon as possible. At this extremely sensitive juncture, everyone must refrain from initiatives that could be exploited by those who continue to reject peace.”