Greta Thunberg's freedom flotilla forced to take evasive manoeuvres after being 'aggressively circled' by Israeli warship

All navigation and communication devices went down in what one organiser on board, Thiago Ávila, described in a press conference as a "cyber attack".

The flotilla appeared to have recovered some communications as it makes its way towards the heavily bombarded enclave.

The Global Sumud Flotilla consists of more than 40 civilian boats carrying about 500 people, among them parliamentarians, lawyers and activists, including Ms Thunberg and Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham.

It is the latest sea-borne attempt to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza, much of which has been heavily destroyed by almost two years of war, to deliver food and medicine.

The boats have reached within 120 nautical miles of Gaza's coast, inside an area that Israel is policing to stop any boats approaching.

The flotilla said it would continue its course towards the enclave and expects to arrive on the shores of Gaza on Thursday morning if not intercepted.

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Last week, the flotilla was attacked by drones, which dropped stun grenades and itching powder on the vessels, causing damage but no injuries.

Israel did not comment on that attack, but has previously said it will use any means to prevent the boats from reaching Gaza, arguing that its naval blockade is legal as it battles Hamas in the region.

Italy and Spain deployed naval ships to help with any rescue or humanitarian needs but stopped following the flotilla once it got within 150 nautical miles (278 km) of Gaza for safety reasons. Turkish drones have also followed the boats.

Italy and Greece, on Wednesday, jointly called on Israel not to hurt the activists aboard and called on the flotilla to hand over its aid to the Catholic Church for indirect delivery to Gaza, a plea the flotilla has previously rejected.

A joint statement by the Foreign Ministers in Rome and Athens said: "(We) are calling on the Israeli authorities to ensure the safety and security of the participants and to allow for all consular protection measures."

The flotilla has rejected the suggestion to hand over aid to the Catholic Church, letting it distribute it in Gaza, and avoid a direct confrontation with Israeli forces.

They said that a key part of their mission is to challenge and expose Israel's naval blockade on Gaza, which they consider unlawful.

Jonathan Peled, the Israeli ambassador to Italy, said: "This systematic refusal (to hand over the aid) demonstrates that the objective is not humanitarian, but provocative. They are not seeking to help, they are seeking an incident."

At the press conference held by organisers, Francesca Albanese, a UN expert on Palestinian rights, said any interception of the flotilla "would be yet another violation of international law, the law of the sea" since Israel had no legal jurisdiction on waters off Gaza.

Israel has imposed a naval blockade on Gaza since Hamas took control of the coastal enclave in 2007, and there have been several previous attempts by activists to deliver aid by sea.

In 2010, nine activists were killed after Israeli soldiers boarded a flotilla of six ships manned by 700 pro-Palestinian activists from 50 countries.

In June this year, Israeli naval forces detained Thunberg and 11 crew members from a small ship organised by a pro-Palestinian group called the Freedom Flotilla Coalition as they approached Gaza.

Meanwhile, Pope Leo commented on the international aid flotilla, saying: "From all sides, people are saying, 'Let's hope that there will not be violence, that people are respected.' That's very important."

He also expressed hope that Hamas would endorse President Donald Trump's plans for Gaza.

"There are very interesting elements" in the plan, the pope was quoted as saying by Italian reporters. "I hope Hamas will accept it within the established timeframe."

Hamas was not part of the talks that led to the proposal, which calls on the group to disarm, a demand it has previously rejected. It has said it will review the plan in good faith and provide a response.