Fri May 02 09:27:38 UTC 2025: ## Gaza Aid Ship Attacked by Drones in International Waters, Freedom Flotilla Coalition Claims
VALLETTA, MALTA – A ship carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza has been attacked by drones in international waters off the coast of Malta, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) announced Friday. The group alleges that two drone strikes hit the vessel, *Conscience*, causing a fire, significant hull damage, and leaving 30 activists on board scrambling to prevent it from sinking.
The FFC, which organized the aid mission to break Israel’s two-month-old blockade of Gaza, states the attack occurred 14 nautical miles from Malta. While the FFC did not directly accuse Israel, they demanded that Israeli ambassadors be summoned to answer for what they called violations of international law, including the blockade and the attack on a civilian vessel in international waters. Israel has yet to comment on the incident.
Nicole Jenes of the FFC reported that the attack blew a hole in the ship’s hull and ignited the engine. Communication with the crew was lost after the activists reportedly sought shelter from further attacks. An SOS signal was sent, prompting a response from a Cypriot vessel. The Maltese government confirmed that the fire has been extinguished and the ship is under observation. The condition of the activists remains unclear.
The attack comes amidst a dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as highlighted in a Friday report by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The ICRC warns that the humanitarian response is on the verge of collapse due to the ongoing blockade and the devastation caused by recent hostilities. The FFC emphasizes that the attack is “an extension of the genocide” in Gaza and must not go unpunished. The FFC is calling for global attention to be focused on the blockade of Gaza.
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