Freedom Flotilla Coalition calls for Israel reply to violations of worldwide regulation, together with blockade and ‘bombing of our civilian vessel’.
A ship carrying support to Gaza in a bid to interrupt Israel’s blockade has been hit by drones in worldwide waters off Malta, in keeping with the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), the group that organised the mission.
The FFC stated in a press release on Friday that the vessel, now situated 14 nautical miles (25km) from Malta, was the goal of two drone strikes whereas on its option to Gaza. The ship had been searching for to ship support to the besieged enclave, the place support teams warn individuals are struggling to outlive following a two-month complete blockade by Israel.
“Armed drones attacked the entrance of an unarmed civilian vessel twice, inflicting a fireplace and a considerable breach within the hull,” the group stated.
The assertion didn’t straight accuse Israel of finishing up the assault.
Nevertheless, it did demand that “Israeli ambassadors have to be summoned and reply to violations of worldwide regulation, together with the continuing blockade and the bombing of our civilian vessel in worldwide waters”.
Israel has not commented on the drone strikes.
BREAKING: At 00:23 Maltese time, a #FreedomFlotilla ship was subjected to a drone assault. The entrance of the vessel was focused twice, leading to a fireplace and a breach within the hull. The ship is presently situated in worldwide waters close to #Malta. An #SOS misery sign was despatched. pic.twitter.com/J6oEQafuOb
— Freedom Flotilla Coalition (@GazaFFlotilla) May 2, 2025
Nicole Jenes of the FFC advised Al Jazeera that the assault on the Conscience at 12.23pm native time (10:23 GMT) on Friday morning blew a gap within the vessel and set the engine ablaze.
The strike left 30 Turkish and Azeri activists on board engaged in a frantic effort to bail out water and hold the vessel afloat, she added.
The group assertion stated “a vessel from Southern Cyprus” had been dispatched after it despatched SOS calls.
In a while Friday, the Maltese authorities stated in a press release that the fireplace on the ship had been introduced beneath management and that the vessel was being monitored by authorities. It was unclear whether or not the authorities had straight intervened to place out the fireplace and what has occurred to the activists.
Jenes, presently in Malta, stated that the group was not conscious of the scenario on board the ship as communication with the crew had been misplaced.
“They had been hiding within the night time within the rooms of the ship as a result of they had been afraid of the drones … We misplaced contact with them,” she stated.
‘On the verge of complete collapse’
The FFC, fashioned by peace activists from a number of nations final yr, makes use of a transformed trawler to attempt to defy Israel’s blockade on Gaza.
Israel halted humanitarian support two months in the past, shortly earlier than it broke a ceasefire and restarted its warfare towards Hamas, which has devastated the Palestinian enclave and killed greater than 50,000 individuals.
“It’s crucial to … perceive this assault is an extension of the genocide that’s taking place in Gaza and can’t go unpunished,” Jenes stated, insisting that the FFC is asking the world to show its eyes to the blockade.
The Worldwide Committee of the Pink Cross (ICRC) stated in a report launched on Friday that the humanitarian response in Gaza is “on the verge of complete collapse”.
“Six weeks of intense hostilities, mixed with a whole blockage of support for 2 months, have left civilians with out the necessities they should survive. With out a right away resumption of support deliveries, the is not going to have entry to the meals, medicines, and life-saving provides wanted to maintain lots of its programmes in Gaza,” the ICRC stated.
