Italy’s navy will stop accompanying the Gaza aid flotilla 150 miles from shore, warning activists to turn back. Israel has vowed to block the convoy from reaching Gaza.

The deal follows the sale by Italy to Indonesia and Egypt of vessels that were already under construction for the Italian navy.

BREAKING Hundreds of elected EU representatives demand immediate protection for the @gbsumudflotilla after last night’s attacks in European waters. The letter comes as the Italian government deploys a naval vessel off the coast of Crete to safeguard their nationals at sea. pic.twitter.com/AbVm7gIc0Y

USS Bulkeley joined Baltic Sentry on Tuesday, the first deployment of a U.S. ship to the mission, as NATO confronts repeated unidentified drone incursions.

Italy and Spain have deployed naval assets to escort a Gaza-bound flotilla hauling international activists including Greta Thunberg, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday. The Global Sumud Flotilla,