A Ship With Activists Carrying Aid To Gaza To Stop Israel's Blockade Was Attacked By Drones Near Malta
The ship “Conscience” was carrying around 30 international human rights activists and humanitarian aid supplies destined for Gaza, aiming to challenge the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip through non-violent direct action.
A ship with activists part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FCC) to stop Israel’s blockade on Gaza was attacked by drones off the coast of Malta, causing a fire and a breach in the hull.
The Freedom Flotilla is a coalition of international pro-Palestine activists and organizations, established in 2010, aiming to challenge and break Israel’s long blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2007 by delivering humanitarian aid directly to Gaza via ships.
A video shared by FFC on Friday, May 2, showed the ship on fire and recorded the sound of two explosions.
The ship “Conscience” was carrying around 30 international human rights activists and humanitarian aid supplies destined for Gaza, aiming to challenge the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip through non-violent direct action.
It was heading to Malta as a planned stop before continuing its trip to Gaza to take around 40 people, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, to join the mission.
About 17 kilometers off the coast of Malta, two drones attacked the ship, putting the vessel at risk of sinking, according to FFC.
The ship immediately issued an SOS distress signal following the attack.
Cyprus dispatched a small boat to assist and the Armed Forces of Malta sent a patrol boat to help extinguish the fire and support the crew.
By around 2:13 am local time, all crew members were confirmed safe.
The Maltese government later reported that the fire was brought under control overnight and that the vessel remained secure but still at risk due to the hull breach.
The major damage to the vessel “ made it impossible to continue the mission,” Thunder said.
FFC held Israel responsible for the attack, saying it is trying to sabotage its effort to stop Israel’s blockade on Gaza.
Israel has completely blocked all humanitarian aid from entering Gaza since March 2, refusing to resume the ceasefire and saying it wants Hamas to release all the remaining hostages.
The World Food Programme reported it has run out of food in Gaza as Israel’s blockade continues, leaving more than two million Palestinians facing starvation.
In 2010, Israeli forces attacked the first FFC ship headed to Gaza in international waters, killing at least nine people, according to Reuters.
Israeli forces said it is investigating the attacks, according to the BBC.
Hamas accused Israel of "piracy" and "state terrorism" following the attack on the FFC ship, according to Reuters.
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