Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday called on the international aid flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza to immediately stop their mission.
Insisting on a confrontation with Israel could upset the current "fragile balance" that could lead to peace based on the plan proposed by US President Donald Trump, Meloni said.
"Many would be happy to disrupt" that plan, Meloni said in a statement.
"I fear that the flotilla's attempt to breach the Israeli naval blockade could provide a pretext for this. Also for this reason, I believe the flotilla should stop now," she added.
Italy warns Gaza aid flotilla of naval call before critical zone
The international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza said Italy had informed it on Tuesday that the naval frigate shadowing it would soon issue a radio call, offering participants the opportunity to abandon ship and return to shore before reaching a "critical zone."
The Global Sumud Flotilla said it would continue to sail onwards with over 40 civilian boats carrying parliamentarians, lawyers and activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, aiming to break Israel's blockade of the Palestinian enclave.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Italian defense ministry said its navy would stop following the international flotilla once it reached within 150 nautical miles (278 km) of the shore of Gaza.