Benedetta Scuderi, an Italian member of the European Parliament for the leftist Greens-European Free Alliance group who has joined the flotilla, told Italian public radio RAI that drones had dropped stun grenades.

Well this is why probably. Can't let one of your MPs get attacked, bit of a prestige issue when you just let that happen. Other quotes seem to go in that direction at least:

Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said in a statement the sea convoy had been targeted by "currently unidentified perpetrators". He expressed the "strongest condemnation" of the incident.

He added the Italian multi-purpose frigate Fasan, previously sailing north of Crete, was "already on route" towards the flotilla "for possible rescue operations."

An Italian official said the navy had been mobilised primarily to help Italians on board.

Note how they specifically avoid saying the boat is there to protect the flotilla.

Funny enough they possibly won't need to if they stay "somewhat close".

Israel cannot risk that an Italian frigate might actually provide reliable sensor data where the drones came from (or worse,even identify a mothership) - and the FREMM class frigates are bloody capable in that regard. That would allow Meloni to have an incredibly powerful diplomatic card in her hand (not only against Israel but also against the US and indirectly also parts of the EU)

If Bibi is really stupid enough to do more shit with the drones while not being too sure that Italy won't intervene and the Fasan does actually shoot a few drones down (which it is absolutely capable off - it's basically one of it's main jobs) then he risks that these parts are being found and that a diplomatic incident that is bigger than the Polish drone incident is created and basically makes sure that the EU must seriously sanction his country. (Which would directly fuck up his war plans and his defence industry)

Will that make the flotilla arrive? No. Because at some point the Fasan needs to turn back. That will very likely be at the border of Israel's exclusive economic zone at the latest. (Even if Italy is really brave, the 12 mile zone would be the absolute limit - and 12 miles is a long time for Israel to sink, capture or incapacitate a civil flotilla.)

There is sadly absolutely no chance (maybe beside a collective stroke of Bibi and his right wing secretaries) for this flotilla to reach Gaza.

Just by being there it's protecting the flotilla. Israel will have a hard time attacking, or even continuing to claim that the flotilla is Hamas if the Italian navy is escorting.
I've just heard this news and I'm so very proud of Italy. Finally. Finally a nation is taking action...Forza Italia!

Fortunately, this came after the entire working class of Italy caused a general strike.

The power of unions people!!!!!

Those were the days my friend.

Right, I'd say Italy should send their troops in Gaza to protect the Palestinian people, who needs the other countries? Am I right?

Well ... Unless the people are dark skinned refugees in rubber boats.

Not when israel it the attacker, israel is completely lawless

after over a decade of Europe ignoring high seas piracy against their own boats?

Two consecutive general strikes

It's a smart move. That's why.

At the minimum:

It calms down the protesters at home.

It does not officially provoke Israel (which still might be fuming behind closed doors,but who cares from the Italian POV) - because it's just a rescue operation, right?

And if Meloni is lucky because the Israelis are doing something stupid (which is not out of the question), she gets a diplomatic card that is incredibly powerful.

Imagine the following scenario: Israel attacks the flotilla again, sadly three people die. Italy doesn't even need to intervene to win the card. Because the chances that they then have very very detailed and irrefutable proof who did it is fairly high - their frigate is fairly capable. So there is a good chance they could track the drones or even identify their mothership. Which then would allow Meloni to blackmail basically half the world. Towards Israel (and to a limited amount the US) she could demand defence products or similar things at a bargain - or she will make the radar records public and then the EU would need to impose sanctions basically as it's sadly a different thing to kill Palestinians in Gaza compared to kill Europeans in European waters in the mind of most politicians. Towards the countries in the EU who are still somewhat ambivalent toward Israel(mostly due to opportunistic reasons)they could,behind closed doors, also threaten to release the records to shift public opinion in these countries even more and increase intra-EU sanction pressure.

And of course she could also sell out the records to Qatar for some cheap LNG deals.

It's a clever move.

She said he would not protect the flotilla if attacked .

I don't want to click on an Israeli media so i will just post a screenshot of the article that indicate it