UN demands investigation as activists report explosions, radio jamming and Swedish pop music assault whilst Italy dispatches warship to protect aid convoy
Activists aboard Greta Thunberg’s Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla have been subjected to hours of relentless Abba music after their radio systems were hijacked in what organisers describe as an escalating campaign of “psychological operations” in international waters near Greece.
The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), currently sailing approximately five days from Israel’s interception zone, reported that multiple vessels had their VHF radio communications jammed with the Swedish pop band’s hit “Lay All Your Love On Me” playing on repeat, in what activists believe was a deliberate nod to climate activist Thunberg’s nationality.
“We are witnessing these psychological operations first-hand, right now, but we will not be intimidated,” the flotilla coalition said in a statement early Wednesday morning, as more than a dozen explosions were reported around the convoy of 51 boats carrying over 500 activists from 45 countries.
Escalating Attacks in International Waters
Brazilian activist Thiago Avilo, aboard one of the targeted vessels, posted on Instagram documenting the bizarre assault: “Our VHF radio was hijacked by adversarial comms, and they started playing Abba.” The music bombardment accompanied what activists describe as a coordinated drone attack involving “15 to 16 drones” that dropped explosive devices and chemical substances on deck.
Yasemin Acar, a member of the GSF steering committee, captured video footage whilst the Swedish pop music blasted in the background. “They’re jamming our radio,” she said in the recording. “We don’t know where this is coming from, the sound, but other vessels are experiencing the same thing.”
According to flotilla organisers, Israeli “military drones” targeted five vessels on Tuesday, damaging masts and communication equipment. Several explosions, believed to be stun grenades, were heard in the background of video footage shared by activists. The attack marks the third assault on the aid-bearing ships since the beginning of September.
It seems designed to intimidate and keep us awake,” Avilo said, adding that “As far as I’m aware, there has never been an intervention of this scale with flotilla boats in international waters so far from Israel.
International Response and Investigation Calls
The United Nations Human Rights Office has demanded an immediate investigation into the attacks. UN spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan called for “an independent, impartial and thorough investigation into the reported attacks and harassment by drones and other objects” against the flotilla, stating that anyone responsible for the “violations” should be held accountable.
Attacks and threats against those trying to deliver aid to and support the hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza who are suffering famine and starvation defy belief,” Al-Kheetan added, insisting that the attacks “must stop.
Italy responded swiftly to the incident, with Defence Minister Guido Crosetto announcing the dispatch of a naval frigate to provide protection for the convoy, which includes Italian activists and members of parliament. The vessel is already en route to the area for possible rescue operations,” Crosetto posted on social media platform X.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed that “Italian citizens, along with members of parliament and MEPs” were among the activists, warning Israeli authorities that “any operation entrusted to Israeli forces must be conducted in compliance with international law.”
Thunberg Defiant Despite ‘Scare Tactics’
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who boarded the flotilla in Tunisia after earlier suspected drone attacks, remained defiant in the face of what she called Israeli “scare tactics.” Speaking via livestream on Wednesday morning, Thunberg said: “We were aware of the risks of these kinds of attacks and that’s not something that’s going to stop us.
The 22-year-old activist emphasised the stark contrast between the flotilla’s experience and daily life in Gaza: “For Palestinians, especially in Gaza, those drones are dropping bombs constantly. This mission is about Gaza, it isn’t about us. And no risks that we could take could even come close to the risks the Palestinians are facing every day.”
Musical Mockery of International Law
Brazilian campaigner Thiago Avilo drew pointed conclusions from the choice of Swedish pop music as psychological warfare. We can only draw one sensible conclusion from the choice of Abba: that the State of Israel delights in making a mockery of international law,” he stated. It also reveals the extent to which Israel has become accustomed to enacting rogue violence.
Greg Stoker, an American activist aboard one of the boats, confirmed that the vessel’s VHF radio communications suffered interference, with jammers playing an Abba song over the VHF channel the flotilla was using. Multiple witnesses reported the music playing continuously for hours throughout the night.
Italian activist Simone Zambrin described the cumulative effect of the harassment: “Drones have been flying over our heads for days now” and on Wednesday “dropped devices at our boats, damaging both the sails and the hearing of some of our crew members.”
Flotilla’s Mission and Israeli Opposition
The Global Sumud Flotilla set sail from Barcelona at the end of August with the stated mission of “breaking the illegal siege of Gaza” and delivering humanitarian aid including food, medicine, and baby formula to the Palestinian territory. The Arabic word “sumud” means steadfastness or resilient perseverance.
Israel has vowed to prevent the flotilla from reaching Gaza, with the Foreign Ministry accusing organisers of being linked to Hamas without providing evidence. “Israel will not allow vessels to enter an active combat zone and will not allow the breach of a lawful naval blockade,” the ministry stated, proposing instead that activists unload their aid in the Israeli port of Ashkelon.
The convoy, described as the largest civilian attempt to break Israel’s 18-year naval blockade of Gaza, includes politicians, activists, and civil society representatives from more than 40 countries. The flotilla comprises over 50 vessels with thousands of participants from more than 44 countries.
Pattern of Attacks
Tuesday night’s incident represents an escalation in what activists describe as a sustained campaign of harassment. The flotilla had already reported two suspected drone attacks whilst docked in Tunisia earlier this month, with one vessel, the Alma, catching fire after what organisers claimed was a drone strike.
According to the group, Israeli “military drones” targeted five of the vessels on Tuesday, damaging masts and communication equipment. The GSF coalition documented “multiple drones, unidentified objects dropped, communications jammed and explosions heard from a number of boats.”
Current Location and Future Plans
On its current course near the Greek island of Crete, the flotilla remains approximately 1,000 miles from Gaza’s coast and five days from what activists describe as Israel’s interception zone, roughly 200 miles off the Gaza coastline.
Despite the attacks, flotilla organisers remain determined to continue their mission. “We are sailing peacefully in international waters. We are not carrying weapons. We are carrying food, baby formula, medical supplies, and water,” Thunberg stated in her livestream address.
The European Union has condemned the attacks as “unacceptable,” whilst multiple governments monitor the situation. The incident occurs against the backdrop of Israel’s ongoing military offensive in Gaza, where health officials report more than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023.
As dawn broke over the Mediterranean on Wednesday, activists reported assessing damage to their vessels whilst maintaining course toward Gaza, with the haunting echo of Swedish pop music serving as an unlikely soundtrack to this latest chapter in the decades-long conflict over access to the besieged territory.
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