In brief
A humanitarian vessel carrying support for Gaza encountered explosions off Malta's coast, but all crew members are reported safe.
On May 2, 2025, early in the morning, the humanitarian ship Conscience was rocked by explosions while navigating international waters off the coast of Malta, resulting in a fire that put the vessel at risk of sinking. The ship, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and carrying 16 people and aid supplies, had previously departed Tunisia. It was on its way to Gaza and planned to pick up around 40 additional passengers in Malta, including prominent activist Greta Thunberg.The Maltese government confirmed a tug vessel responded quickly to the mayday call, successfully extinguishing the blaze. However, the cause of the explosions remains unclear, as is whether the attack was intentional. Authorities are currently keeping a close watch on the ship in international waters, monitoring the situation. Despite the damages, all crew members are safely aboard, and a determination on the ship's status to dock in Malta is pending. Further investigations are expected to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident.
