Humanitarian Aid Ship Attacked While En Route to Gaza
A ship carrying humanitarian aid and activists to Gaza has been bombed by drones and disabled while in international waters off Malta, according to the organizers. At 12:23 AM Maltese time, the "Conscience," a vessel from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, came under direct attack in international waters. The group stated that armed drones targeted the front of their unarmed civilian vessel twice, resulting in a fire and a substantial breach in the hull. They have attributed the attack to Israel, although there has been no comment from Israeli officials regarding the allegations.
The strike seemed to primarily target the boat's generator early on Friday, leaving it without power and at risk of sinking, according to the activists. Images shared on social media by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition depicted a fierce blaze and explosions aboard the ship. The Maltese government confirmed that the vessel had a total of 12 crew members and 4 civilian passengers, all of whom were reported to be safe. No casualties were noted, and a nearby tugboat was dispatched to assist the disabled vessel.
The group claimed that the activists onboard represented 21 different countries and emphasized their intent to challenge Israel's illegal and deadly siege of Gaza while delivering critically needed lifesaving aid. They demanded the summons of Israeli ambassadors to respond to violations of international law, particularly concerning the ongoing blockade of Gaza and the bombing of their vessel in international waters.
Ever since Israel tightened its blockade on Gaza two months ago, access to essential supplies — including food, fuel, and medicine — has been severely restricted. Humanitarian organizations warn that aid supplies are running low, with officials in Gaza stating that the last stocks of flour and other food items are nearly depleted. They predict that kitchens providing basic meals for those with no other options are expected to close within a week to ten days if the situation remains unchanged.
Israeli officials justify the blockade by claiming that Hamas often misappropriates aid, diverting it to fighters or selling it. However, aid officials in Gaza have contested that there has not been significant theft of humanitarian supplies in recent months.
This incident marks a troubling precedent for humanitarian missions; the last notable Freedom Flotilla effort, which launched from southern Turkey in 2010, ended in violence when Israeli forces stormed the "Mavi Marmara" vessel, resulting in the deaths of ten individuals and injuries to twenty-eight others.
The current conflict in Gaza escalated following a Hamas attack on southern Israel in October 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, predominantly among civilians. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza reported over 2,326 fatalities since Israel resumed airstrikes, raising the total death toll since the onset of the conflict to over 52,418, with most casualties being civilians. The situation remains dire, with ongoing calls for increased humanitarian support and a resolution to the entrenched violence in the region.
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