Al Jazeera correspondent reported that contact was lost with the Alma ship, the main vessel leading the global Steadfast Fleet to break the Gaza blockade, amid heightened alert.

The correspondent also stated that participants on the Alma ship threw their phones into the sea according to protocol when a ship is confirmed to be intercepted.

The correspondent observed a large warship near the location of the Steadfast Fleet ships amid maximum alert.

Meanwhile, the global Steadfast Fleet announced a return to maximum alert due to unidentified ships approaching without lights near the fleet’s vessels.

Earlier, the correspondent reported that the fleet, now about 120 nautical miles from Gaza’s shores, had lowered its alert level after previously raising it to maximum as it neared the coast, and ruled out an imminent Israeli attack.

The fleet’s management received information about an Israeli warship departing from the Ashdod port that may soon reach the fleet.

The Al Jazeera team spotted reconnaissance drones flying simultaneously at medium altitudes over the fleet’s ships.

Yasmin Agar, a member of the fleet’s management, confirmed attempts to jam their communications and expects the fleet to face an attack or interception within hours.

She said their experience on the fleet is similar to what happened during the interception of the Madeleine ship.

This comes after the Steadfast Fleet management rejected a new request from the Italian Foreign Ministry and Prime Minister to refrain from entering the danger zone and to hand over the aid for delivery to Gaza.

An Italian warship also issued a warning and invitation to those wishing to leave on board, which the fleet management considered a rejected attempt to sabotage their humanitarian campaign.

Italy and Spain sent two ships last week to escort the fleet after it was attacked by drones dropping sound bombs and itching agents off the coast of Greece.

The “Steadfast Fleet” includes the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the Global Gaza Movement, the Steadfast Convoy, and the Malaysian “Samudra Nusantara” organization, carrying more than 500 activists from 40 countries on 50 ships.

This is the first time dozens of ships sail together toward the Gaza Strip, home to about 2.4 million Palestinians and blockaded by Israel for about 18 years.

Greek activists participating in the fleet confirmed their determination to reach Gaza and said they are not afraid of any potential Israeli attack.