GAZA CITY / PNN /The largest flotilla to set sail from Europe toward Gaza is expected to arrive Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, carrying some 50 vessels with more than 500 activists from over 45 countries in an attempt to break Israel’s ongoing blockade amid the war in the enclave.Israeli naval forces are preparing to intercept the convoy, raising fears of a violent confrontation with broad political and international repercussions. European naval ships from Italy, Spain, Greece and Turkey are shadowing the flotilla, not to challenge Israel but to provide assistance if needed.Turkey has dispatched two drones to document the voyage and deployed a support ship that evacuated four activists Monday after their boat began sinking, organizers said. The fleet is now roughly 370 kilometres from Gaza. “We are determined to achieve the flotilla’s goals — breaking the siege and opening a maritime corridor,” the organisers declared in a statement.The Maghreb Resilience Flotilla, one of the participating groups, said the convoy of nearly 50 boats had reached the “orange zone,” just before the “red zone” where Israel typically intercepts blockade-breaking attempts.According to the organisers, 532 activists are on board from 45 countries. The United Nations has warned that any attack on the flotilla would be “unacceptable,” while rights groups, including Amnesty International, have called for its protection. Israeli media reported that more than 50 vessels were nearing Gaza’s coast, as Tel Aviv continued preparations to stop them.Israeli talks with European naviesIsraeli newspaper Haaretz reported that Israel’s security establishment has held talks with European navies accompanying the flotilla to “clarify intentions and set rules of conduct.” Israel has accepted assurances that the European vessels do not plan to clash with its forces, but officials fear any violent encounter during the takeover could spark escalation and damage Israel’s global image.Security officials have warned the standoff carries “a high risk of harming Israel’s standing in the world,” urging political efforts to avoid confrontation. Military sources, however, criticised what they described as insufficient diplomacy to prevent escalation.Proposals to allow the flotilla to dock in Cyprus or Greece, or transfer aid through Egypt or Jordan, were rejected by organisers. Activists said their governments had warned them Israel may intercept the convoy once it reaches about 100 nautical miles from Gaza.The flotilla has already faced two attacks on boats in recent days, prompting Italy, Spain, Greece and Turkey to send escort ships.Israel’s operational planThe Israeli navy is expected to deploy commandos to storm the flotilla vessels, with reserve police and elite units on standby in case of escalation. If the ships are seized, they will be diverted to Ashdod port, where activists would face detention and deportation procedures.Italian journalist Alessandro Mantovani, sailing with the flotilla, said the participants had all been trained in nonviolent resistance and would avoid confrontation. “The activists will not use violence,” he said.Onboard the ship Spectre, participants said they would stand firm but remain peaceful, insisting that seizing their cargo would constitute “an international crime.” They vowed to take their case to the International Criminal Court or go on hunger strike if detained.Franco-American activist Frank Romano, 73, said the group had adopted “different protocols” to face possible attacks. “We are ready for any kind of confrontation: interception, drone strike, or conventional assault,” he said, while stressing their strategy remained non-provocative.Australian participant Abu Bakr Refik, 24, added: “We are not carrying weapons and we intend no illegal actions — unlike Israel, which has a long record of violating international law.”Diplomatic pressure mountsItalian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he hoped for “common sense” in handling the flotilla, noting he had urged his Israeli counterpart not to use violence. “He told me there will be no violence,” Tajani said.The convoy, dubbed the “Global Resilience Flotilla,” set sail from Barcelona in late August carrying humanitarian and medical supplies. It brings together the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the Global Gaza Movement, the Resilience Convoy and Malaysia’s Nusantara Resilience organisation.