Suspected Israeli drones have been seen hovering above the Handala humanitarian aid boat as it makes its way to Gaza from the Italian coast, sources from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) said on Saturday.
In a statement on Telegram, the coalition said that at least 16 drones were spotted within a 45-minute period, some of which were circling the boat.
In another post on the channel, French MP Gabrielle Cathala, who is on the boat, said the crew was "prepared for any potential intervention that may occur in the coming hours or tomorrow morning".
"We are all united, we are in solidarity and we ware ready. Drones have started heading towards us. If the internet is cut off, strange things may happen," she said.
On Friday, the FFC said it had restored contact with the Handala after losing contact with the crew.
At the time of publication, the YouTube livestream from onboard the boat was still active, showing the some of the crew members sitting above deck.
On Sunday, the FFC urged supporters to contact their governments to provide diplomatic protection for the Handala, which is attempting to break Israel's deadly siege on Gaza, which is starving the enclaves population.
"After drones repeatedly hovered over the ‘Handala’ last night, we need people of the world to help tag and email their foreign ministry," the post read.
"The volunteers aboard are delivering life-saving aid to Gaza. They are unarmed, carrying only food, medicine, and baby formula, and acting fully within international law. It’s time for world governments to step up. Demand they protect their citizens aboard the 'Handala' and stop enabling Israel's war crimes."
With its crew of 19, which includes human rights defenders and journalists, the Handala aims to break through the deadly Israeli blockade to deliver vital humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
Israel has blocked vital aid into Gaza, and taken control of the distribution of aid through the controversial US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — a group accused by rights groups of "militarising" aid through its employment of military contractors.
Israeli forces and GHF contractors have repeatedly opened fire on Palestinians desperately seeking aid at their distribution sites, with more than 1,000 Palestinians being killed at their sites since operations began in May.
More than 123 Palestinians have died of hunger caused by Israel's siege on Gaza, with at least 17,000 children known to be suffering from malnutrition.
Deaths from the effects of starvation are expected to accelerate rapidly if Israel continues to block urgently needed assistance.
The war on Gaza has killed over 59,676 people since October 2023, but the true death toll is believed to be much higher, with thousands of uncounted victims trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings.