A humanitarian ship aiming to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza was reportedly attacked by drones in international waters east of Malta, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC). The group said its vessel, The Conscience, was struck at 00:23 local time on Friday, prompting an SOS signal and raising fears of a serious escalation in the eastern Mediterranean.
The FFC stated the ship had been en route to Gaza to deliver aid and protest Israel’s long-standing blockade. The NGO accused Israel of orchestrating the drone strike, citing the political nature of its mission and the region’s tense dynamics. While the Israeli military said it was investigating the reports, it did not immediately confirm involvement.
Footage uploaded by the coalition showed flames engulfing part of the ship, with the group alleging that the vessel’s generator had been deliberately targeted, leaving it without power and vulnerable to sinking. The incident occurred 17 nautical miles (approximately 31.5 kilometers) off Malta’s coast, in international waters.
There were discrepancies in reports of those on board. Malta said there were 16 people—12 crew and 4 activists—while the FFC claimed 30 activists were present. Fortunately, the Maltese government later confirmed that the fire had been brought under control and no casualties were reported.
Cypriot authorities responded to the SOS, dispatching a ship, although the FFC criticized the lack of sufficient support, particularly in restoring critical power systems. The group has called on European governments to summon Israeli ambassadors for what it described as a violation of international law.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, a long-time critic of the Israeli blockade, views the attack as a continuation of efforts to silence dissent and suppress humanitarian access to Gaza. The siege on Gaza has intensified since Israel resumed its military campaign in response to Hamas’s deadly October 7, 2023, assault, which killed about 1,200 people and saw hundreds taken hostage.
Gaza’s health ministry, run by Hamas, reports that more than 52,000 Palestinians have since died in the conflict, with international efforts to de-escalate the violence still yielding little success.
The incident has sparked renewed global scrutiny of Israel’s maritime control and its humanitarian implications.
