Overview

• Israel’s foreign ministry said it will stop any attempt to breach what it calls a legal naval blockade of Gaza and will not let ships enter an active combat zone.
• Officials invited the vessels to dock at Ashkelon for a coordinated transfer of supplies into Gaza if the goal is delivering humanitarian aid.
• Organizers say the Global Sumud Flotilla aims to deliver relief and break the blockade after earlier attempts were halted in June and July.
• According to flotilla tracking, the convoy was west of Crete, roughly 1,200 kilometers from the Gaza Strip on Monday.
• A journalist on board reported persistent drone monitoring until dawn, and French politicians urged President Macron to extend diplomatic protection to nationals on the ships as France moves to recognize Palestine.