Italian and Spanish Warships Dispatched After Greta Thunberg's Gaza Flotilla Reports Communications Jammed with ABBA Songs

Athens, Greece – The Global Sumud Flotilla, carrying humanitarian aid and prominent activist Greta Thunberg towards Gaza, reported that its communication systems were allegedly hacked and subjected to repeated ABBA songs, alongside drone attacks, in international waters near Greece on September 23-24, 2025. This incident prompted Italy and Spain to dispatch naval vessels to provide assistance to the convoy.

Activists on board the flotilla claimed that "military drones" not only jammed their VHF radios, broadcasting ABBA's "Lay All Your Love On Me" on repeat, but also dropped "sonic percussion grenades," "explosive" devices, and "irritating substances" on several of the 51 vessels. One activist stated, "Our VHF radio was hijacked by adversarial comms, and they started playing Abba." The incident was widely reported, with Eyal Yakoby tweeting, "BREAKING: Trolls have hacked Greta’s comms systems and are playing Abba songs on repeat."

The Global Sumud Flotilla's stated mission is to "break the illegal siege of Gaza" and deliver humanitarian supplies. Organizers and participants have characterized the auditory and drone attacks as a "psychological operation," suggesting the choice of ABBA, a Swedish band, was a direct taunt aimed at the Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. They have not officially attributed responsibility but implied Israeli involvement, given Israel's long-standing stance on such flotillas.

In response to the escalating situation, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto announced the dispatch of the frigate ITS Virginio Fasan to assist the flotilla, with 58 Italian citizens reportedly on board. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also pledged to send a naval vessel, emphasizing the need to respect international law and ensure the safety of citizens navigating the Mediterranean. Both nations have demanded information and assurances regarding the safety of the convoy.

Israel has not taken responsibility for the alleged attacks but has consistently opposed such flotillas, characterizing them as "publicity stunts" rather than genuine humanitarian efforts. Israeli authorities have previously intercepted aid boats bound for Gaza and offered to transport aid through designated ports, maintaining that it will not allow vessels to breach its naval blockade of the territory. The flotilla remains approximately five days sailing time from the 200-mile deep Israeli Exclusive Economic Zone, where the risk of interception is expected to increase.