In the early hours of Friday, The Conscience, a ship belonging to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, faced an alleged drone attack in international waters close to Malta, intensifying tensions surrounding the Gaza blockade.
Gaza Aid Ship Under Attack from Drones Near Malta, Activist Group Claims
Gaza Aid Ship Under Attack from Drones Near Malta, Activist Group Claims
Drone assault jeopardizes mission of The Conscience, a vessel organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition aiming to deliver aid to Gaza.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition reported that their vessel was targeted at 00:23 local time (22:23 GMT), prompting the crew to issue an SOS distress signal immediately after the assault. The organization's mission was to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and contest the ongoing "illegal siege and blockade" imposed by Israel.
The Maltese government confirmed that a fire on board was "brought under control overnight" and stated that relevant authorities were monitoring the situation. While they reported that no casualties occurred and mentioned 12 crew members and four activists aboard, the NGO claimed there were 30 activists in total.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition directed accusations at Israel, demanding their ambassadors be summoned to address what they labeled violations of international law linked to the blockade and the attack on their vessel. The Israeli military stated they are investigating the incident further.
A video shared by the activist group showed flames onboard the vessel, although there were no indications of injuries. The attack reportedly compromised the generator, leaving the ship without power and vulnerable to sinking. At the time of the assault, The Conscience was positioned 17 nautical miles (31.5 kilometers) east of Malta.
In response to the SOS, a vessel from Cyprus was dispatched but reportedly could not provide necessary electrical support for the damaged ship. The coalition has been actively campaigning to lift the blockade imposed by Israel on Gaza.
This incident unfolds against the backdrop of heightened conflict in the region, which began two months ago when Israel closed all crossings to Gaza, ceasing the flow of essential supplies such as food, fuel, and medicine. Following this, Israeli military operations escalated in response to a significant cross-border attack on October 7, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 individuals and the hostage-taking of 251 others. The ongoing war has seen a tragic toll in Gaza, with reports indicating at least 52,418 deaths according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.
