Spain and Italy say they are sending navy ships to where a flotilla of boats carrying activists seeking to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza is sailing, after the activists said they were attacked by drones near Greece.

The Global Sumud Flotilla said Wednesday it was targeted by drones and communications jamming, with several explosions occurring on or near some of the boats.

Some of the vessels were damaged, but no injuries were reported.

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto condemned the drone attack on civilian boats as “totally unacceptable” during a parliamentary address Thursday.

He said two Italian navy ships were ready to assist if needed, and warned flotilla organizers of the risks involved.

Crosetto urged the flotilla to offload aid in Cyprus, suggesting Italy and the Catholic Church could deliver it safely to Palestinians.

He emphasized that Italy couldn’t guarantee the flotilla’s security once it entered another country’s waters, noting Israel might view it as a hostile act.

Italian officials have said 58 Italians were in the flotilla, including some lawmakers.

Organizers say the flotilla currently includes 52 mostly small vessels carrying activists from dozens of countries.

They are carrying a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid, mainly food and medicine, for Palestinians in the besieged enclave of Gaza.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry has accused organizers of being linked to Hamas, and says it has proposed that the activists unload their aid in the Israeli port of Ashkelon for it to be transported into Gaza.

The flotilla has reported several attacks since it set sail from Spain on September 1st, including two while some of its boats were in Tunisian waters.

AP video shot by: Silvia Stellacci