A flotilla heading for Gaza, carrying aid for the war-torn Palestinian territory, announced on Wednesday that it would proceed with its mission despite what it described as “intimidation tactics” by the Israeli military. The group expressed its readiness for possible intervention by the Israeli navy as it nears the enclave.

The flotilla of some 45 vessels carrying activists and politicians, including Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg and Nelson Mandela’s grandson Mandla Mandela, departed Spain last month with the aim of breaking the blockade on Gaza, where the UN has said there is a famine.

“In the early hours of this morning, Israeli occupation naval forces launched an intimidatory operation against the Global Sumud Flotilla,” the organisers said in a statement as the vessels approached waters off Egypt, where previous attempts have been intercepted.

If undisturbed, it was to reach the shores of Gaza by Thursday morning, the group said.

Spain and Italy, both of which have sent naval vessels to escort the flotilla, have urged the ships to stop travelling towards Israel’s declared exclusion zone off Gaza.

After departing Spain, the flotilla stopped in Tunisia for 10 days, where organisers said it was targeted in two drone attacks, before resuming its journey on September 15.