Gaza Aid Ship Attacked by Drones Near Malta, Activists Claim

The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Friday in international waters, has prompted allegations against Israel and raised questions about international law ramifications.

In a startling development, activists aiming to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza reported that their ship, The Conscience, was targeted by drones off the coast of Malta early Friday morning. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition detailed that the attack took place at approximately 00:23 local time (22:23 GMT), after which an SOS distress signal was immediately sent out by the crew. Their mission was rooted in challenging what they describe as Israel's illegal siege and blockade of Gaza.

The Maltese government confirmed that a fire aboard The Conscience was swiftly contained, and the vessel is currently under close watch by maritime authorities. Although there were discrepancies in the number of people on board reported by various parties—12 crew members and 4 activists according to the government, versus 30 activists as claimed by the NGO—no injuries have been reported.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition has explicitly accused Israel of orchestrating the attack, prompting calls for accountability from the Israeli ambassadors regarding violations of international law, including the blockade and alleged aggression against civilian maritime operations. The Israeli military stated it was examining the situation.

Accompanying the claims, the coalition released a video depicting flames on the vessel, though there were no confirmations of injuries. They reported that the drone attack seemingly targeted the ship's generator, leaving it without power and in a precarious state. The Conscience was approximately 17 nautical miles (31.5 kilometers) east of Malta when it was struck. Cyprus responded to the SOS distress call by sending a ship, but the coalition expressed concerns that the assistance provided was insufficient for the urgent electrical support needed.

The situation unfolds in the dramatic backdrop of escalating tensions in the region, primarily due to Israel's blockade of Gaza that has severely restricted essential supplies since it was re-imposed two months ago. Following an unprecedented cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in substantial casualties, Israel intensified its military response, culminating in the ongoing conflict that, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, has claimed the lives of at least 52,418 individuals.