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A group of international activists claims that a ship intended to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza was attacked by drones in international waters off Malta early Friday morning.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition reported that their vessel, The Conscience, came under attack at 00:23 local time (22:23 GMT), prompting the crew to send out an SOS distress signal. The coalition said the ship was part of a mission to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza and deliver aid directly to the besieged territory.
According to the Maltese authorities, a fire broke out on board the ship during the night but was successfully brought under control. Officials confirmed that the vessel is now under observation by relevant agencies and that there were no reports of injuries.
There are conflicting reports about the number of people on board. Malta stated that the vessel carried 12 crew members and four activists, while the NGO said there were 30 activists onboard at the time of the incident.
Although no country has officially taken responsibility, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition appeared to blame Israel, accusing it of violating international law by targeting a civilian vessel in international waters. The group called for Israeli ambassadors to be held accountable and summoned to explain the attack and the ongoing blockade.
In response, the Israeli military said it was looking into the reports but did not confirm or deny involvement.
The Freedom Flotilla also shared a video of the incident showing flames aboard the ship. The group claimed the attack appeared to target the vessel’s generator, knocking out all electrical power and putting the ship at risk of sinking.
The ship was located approximately 17 nautical miles (31.5 km) east of Malta when it was struck. Following the SOS call, Cypriot authorities deployed a vessel to assist. However, the coalition said the aid provided did not include the essential electrical support needed to stabilize the ship.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition is known for its efforts to challenge Israel’s naval blockade on Gaza, which has been in place for years. The group has organized previous missions attempting to reach Gaza by sea in defiance of the blockade.
In recent months, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has worsened. Israel closed all border crossings two months ago, halting the entry of essential goods like food, fuel, and medicine. It later resumed its military operations after a temporary ceasefire with Hamas ended.
The current conflict escalated following a deadly Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage. Since then, the Israeli military has launched a sustained campaign against Hamas in Gaza. According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, at least 52,418 people have been killed in the ongoing war.
