An unknown metal cylinder marked with the name and logo of the Israel Space Agency was spotted in the sea between the islands of Lampione and Lampedusa in Italy on Saturday, Italian media reported.
The object was around five meters long and was spotted by the ship Andrea Doria, who alerted the authorities. Italian Coast Guard officials arrived at the scene and confirmed the object had the Israel Space Agency logo and name in Hebrew on it, Giornale Di Sicilia reported.
According to La Repubblica, Lampedusa Mayor Filippo Mannino said that authorities have ruled out any explosive or radioactive material in the object.
Lampedusa is a strategically important island in the Mediterranean, and is the southernmost point of Italian territory. Though still part of Italy, as part of the Italian Pelagie Islands, and being located some 205 kilometers away from Sicily, it is far closer to Tunisia, which is only 113 kilometers away. The island as a result is a major point for migrants from northern Africa trying to enter Italy.
What is the mysterious object from the Israel Space Agency floating near Italian waters?
The object's identity was not confirmed. However, Italian media was rife with speculation.
Most outlets suspected it was a remnant of a satellite or a fuel tanker from an Israeli craft of some sort. This would line up with the launch last week of an Ofek 19 surveillance satellite, which was carried out by the Israel Space Agency and the Defense Ministry without notice to the public.
However, it comes following reports of Israeli military aircraft flying above Italy.
According to Reporters Without Borders journalist Massimo Reina, three Israeli military fighter jets flew over Sicily and landed at Naval Air Station Sigonella, a US Navy base in Sicily, and two Gulfstream Nachshon aircraft, manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries, allegedly flew over Italy. There have also been reports by locals of hearing loud booms in the preceding days.
These incidents were also referenced by Sen. Dolores Bevilacqua of the populist Five Star Movement party.
"All of this is worrying, especially since it's happening just as the Sumud Flotilla is scheduled to depart from the Sicilian coast for Gaza - a disturbing coincidence," Bevilacqua said, according to Giornale Di Sicilia.
The Global Sumud Flotilla is a large grouping of several ships that are heading to Gaza with the stated purpose of providing aid. Originating from Barcelona, the ships set sail and were to be joined by further ships from Tunisia and Italy, with their route set to take them through the Strait of Sicily.
On September 1, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir unveiled a plan to several other Israeli ministers to stop the flotilla, criticizing the aid mission as violating Israeli sovereignty and security and said he wanted to designate the activists on board as terrorists.
The Jerusalem Post reached out to the Defense Ministry and the Israel Space Agency for comment.