Activists on a flotilla of vessels carrying humanitarian aid drew closer to the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, even as several European leaders urged them to turn back to avoid a confrontation with Israel’s military.

The Italian and Greek foreign ministers asked Israel to ensure the safety and security of the flotilla. In a joint statement, they also urged the activists to hand over the aid to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which would deliver it to Gaza.

The flotilla was less than 145 nautical miles from Gaza on Wednesday, off the coast of Egypt, according to the group’s online tracker. The organizers said they were determined to continue sailing despite the risk.

The Israeli authorities have called on the flotilla to deliver the goods to Israel for transfer to Gaza, a proposal the activists have rejected.

Who is on the flotilla?

The boats are part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, the name for a group of activists protesting Israel’s war in Gaza. Their mission is to deliver food during the humanitarian crisis there.

The flotilla set sail from Spain in early September and was joined by other vessels as it traversed the Mediterranean Sea. It now consists of 40 boats, with a number of high-profile individuals on board. They include the well-known climate activist Greta Thunberg; Mandla Mandela, a grandson of Nelson Mandela; and elected lawmakers from Italy, which has been rocked by antiwar protests in recent weeks.

Organizers have been sharing updates on social media from the journey.

What is the group’s aim?

The activists say their goal is to break the siege on Gaza and open a humanitarian corridor to provide aid by sea. They also seek to raise awareness about suffering in the enclave, which has been under an Israeli blockade since shortly after Hamas seized power there in 2007.

Israel’s restrictions on goods entering Gaza have become more severe since the war there, which began in response to the Hamas-led attack of Oct. 7, 2023. More than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war, and parts of the enclave have been suffering from famine in recent months, according to a United Nations-backed panel of food experts whose findings Israel has rejected.

Activists in the flotilla have said their boats are loaded with medicine, baby formula, food, diapers and prosthetic limbs.

“We are trying to deliver hope and solidarity,” Ms. Thunberg said last week, “to send a strong message that the world stands with Palestine.”

How has Israel responded?

The flotilla’s organizers accuse Israel of violating international law with its restrictions on aid to Gaza and by thwarting missions to deliver food to civilians. They have been in conflict with the Israeli authorities since their mission began.

Israel’s government has said it will do whatever is necessary to keep the ships from reaching Gaza. It also has accused the flotilla of having ties to Hamas, allegations that the group’s organizers have denied.

The Israeli authorities say that the flotilla would be violating a lawful naval blockade preventing boats from entering Gaza and that they will “take the necessary measures to prevent its entry into the combat zone.”

Israel’s foreign ministry has told the group to deposit its aid in Israel so that “it can be forwarded promptly to the Gaza Strip in a peaceful and nonviolent manner,” adding that refusing to do so showed “the insincerity of the flotilla members.”

The flotilla’s organizers have rejected the proposal as disingenuous and suggested that Israel was involved in jamming their communications and attacking them with drones as they sailed across the Mediterranean, including in waters near Greece last week and at a port in Tunisia last month.

After those incidents, Italy and Spain sent naval ships to accompany the flotilla for parts of its journey, and Turkey had drones monitor the boats and document potential attacks.

But as the flotilla drew closer to Gaza, Spanish officials urged it not to proceed any further. Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, also called on the flotilla to turn back, saying that she feared it could undermine attempts to reach a peace deal.

Is this the first time a flotilla has tried to reach Gaza?

Activists have made a number of efforts to reach Gaza by Sea.

In May, a Gaza-bound ship called Conscience halted its mission off the coast of Malta after it was hit by explosions. Israel intercepted the Madleen in June and another vessel, the Handala, in July.

In 2010, an attempt by Israel to stop another flotilla turned deadly after navy commandos boarded one boat, killing at least nine passengers and wounding 30 more.

Rawan Sheikh Ahmad contributed reporting from Haifa, Israel.