In the early hours of Friday morning, a vessel from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition was attacked by drones while navigating international waters approximately 17 nautical miles east of Malta. The ship, Conscience, which sails under the flag of Palau, was en route to Gaza carrying humanitarian aid and 30 international human rights activists.
According to multiple eyewitness reports and statements from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the ship was struck twice by what are believed to be Israeli drones. The attacks reportedly targeted the vessel’s front section and its generator, igniting a fire and causing a breach in the hull. The damage forced the crew to issue a distress call. Authorities in Cyprus responded by dispatching a naval vessel to assist. Maltese authorities later confirmed that the onboard fire had been extinguished.
The attack marks a significant escalation in efforts to prevent humanitarian support from reaching Gaza. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an international initiative aimed at breaking the blockade imposed by Israel, condemned the assault and raised concerns over the ship’s safety and the lives of those on board.
Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila, who is among those on the mission, revealed that the preparation for the journey took over 18 months. The decision to depart from Italy was made after Turkey refused to allow the flotilla to sail from its ports—an action criticized by some as indicative of a broader political abandonment of the Palestinian cause.
The incident has drawn international condemnation. The political group EH Bildu denounced the drone strike and called for an end to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Social media users and activists worldwide, including prominent commentators such as @Partisangirl, have amplified calls for solidarity with the Palestinian people.
This latest attack evokes painful memories of the 2010 flotilla raid, in which Israeli forces stormed a humanitarian ship headed for Gaza, resulting in the deaths of nine activists. Although no fatalities have been confirmed in the current incident, the attack is a grim reminder of the risks faced by those attempting to deliver aid to the besieged enclave.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that humanitarian operations in Gaza are now on the brink of total collapse. In a statement released Friday, the ICRC reported that unless aid access is urgently restored, essential programs providing food, medicine, and critical supplies may soon come to a halt.
As of now, the Conscience remains in international waters, and efforts to ensure the safety of the crew and the continuation of its mission are ongoing.
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