London: Australian officials fear for the safety of a global flotilla sailing toward Gaza after drones swept over vessels carrying Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and other activists seeking to break an Israeli blockade.

Six Australians are on board some of the 50 civilian ships from 44 nations attempting to land on the Gaza shore in defiance of Israeli controls on humanitarian aid for the war-torn zone, where doctors say Palestinians are suffering malnutrition and civilian casualties.

Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Matt Thistlethwaite repeated Australia’s call on Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza as he expressed concern about the safety of those on board the civilian fleet.

Activists in the flotilla have reported being intercepted by Israeli ships as th

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