The Spanish government asks the flotilla not to enter the risk zone in the Gaza Strip.

MadridCrucial hours for The Global Sumud Flotilla, which is preparing to enter the dangerous zone early this morning where Israel could attack, as it has done in the past, ships seeking to break the blockade and bring humanitarian aid into Gaza. The Spanish government issued a statement Tuesday night "strongly recommending that the flotilla not enter the exclusion zone" that the Israeli army has established up to 120 nautical miles from the coast, "because doing so would seriously jeopardize its safety." Sources at the Moncloa (Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs) assure that the Spanish military frigate sent to protect the flotilla is already located "within an operational radius to carry out rescue operations if necessary," but that it "will not be able to enter that exclusion zone" and is therefore asking the flotilla not to enter either.

At 7:30 p.m. this Tuesday, the ship Soul, the most advanced vessel of the 43 that make up the Globato Sumud Flotilla, was located approximately 177 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza. As can be seen in the attached infographic, the projection is that by 12 noon on Wednesday it will be approximately 95 nautical miles away, within a radius where Israel has already carried out attacks in the past.

This Tuesday afternoon, flotilla sources explained to the ARA that the Spanish military frigate Fury The frigate, which left Cartagena last Thursday, would not arrive in time to escort them when they reached the risk zone this morning. "We have requested that they accelerate their progress and be able to provide assistance," they explained. The organization estimated that, at its sailing rate, the frigate would reach their altitude at 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Wednesday, when they would be about 75 or 80 miles from Gaza, although these estimates are subject to possible unforeseen events.

But the frigate rushed to catch up with the flotilla's ships and by midnight on Wednesday was already within an operational radius that would allow the rescue of the activists if necessary, according to sources from the Moncloa. The location of the flotilla can be followed in real time, but that of the Spanish ship cannot.

"There is a possibility that Israel will decide to carry out an assault this morning," warned sources from the flotilla on Tuesday afternoon. The Israeli army has established a 120-nautical-mile exclusion zone from the coast, according to the Spanish government, although international law only grants states a 20-mile exclusion zone. The maritime exclusion zone is an area of sea in which, in times of conflict, a belligerent state restricts access to unauthorized vessels, under threat of possible attacks because they are considered hostile.

As can be seen in the attached infographic, from 166 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza, the flotilla is considered to be entering the "emergency" zone, marked in orange. From 100 miles, activists consider it to be entering the red zone, because it is from that distance that Israeli attacks have been recorded in the past. On May 31, 2010, for example, Mavi Marmara It was the vessel that came closest, at 70 miles, and nine activists died and 10 were injured in the attack.

"Our intention is to reach Gaza and not be stopped," the organization emphasizes to the ARA. Therefore, they hope that the Spanish frigate can offer them support, given that the two Italian frigates have already warned that once they exceed 150 miles, they will withdraw. "Days ago, the Israeli government announced an agreement with the Italian government for the flotilla to bring humanitarian aid to Cyprus and that they would then deliver it to Gaza. But we do not accept it. Our idea is not to physically deliver the little humanitarian aid we can transport; our action is political and denouncing." We want to break the argument. The Turkish frigate does have the mandate to accompany the flotilla to wherever it goes, including surveillance drones.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni herself urged the flotilla on Tuesday night to abandon its mission because, she said, it was jeopardizing the plan proposed by Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu to achieve a ceasefire in the Strip. "Hope has finally emerged for an agreement that will end the war and the suffering of the Palestinian civilian population and stabilize the region. This hope is based on a fragile balance, which many would be happy to upset. I fear that the flotilla's attempt to break the Israeli naval blockade could serve as a pretext."