Israel intercepted the vessels in international waters near Greece late on Wednesday, a move the organisers – Global ​Sumud Flotilla – called an act of piracy against ​boats carrying humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged Palestinian ⁠enclave.

Rome also urged Israel to respect international law and ​guarantee the safety of those on board. It did ​not say how many Italians had been detained.

“The government reaffirms its commitment to continuing to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza within the ​framework of our cooperation and in accordance with international ​law,” it said in a statement.

Meloni’s right-wing government has been one ‌of ⁠Israel’s closest friends in Europe, but in recent weeks, it has criticised its attacks on Lebanon, which have killed hundreds and injured thousands.

Earlier this month, it suspended a defence cooperation deal ​with Israel on ⁠account of what was happening in the Middle East.

Israel, which controls all access to the ​Gaza Strip, denies withholding supplies for the ​over ⁠2 million residents and calls those onboard the flotilla boats “attention-seeking agitators.”

Israel’s military had halted a previous flotilla assembled by ⁠the same ​organisation last October in an ​attempt to reach blockaded Gaza, arresting Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and more ​than 450 participants.