Drones attacked a vessel carrying aid to Gaza while it was in international waters off Malta yesterday, the group organizing the shipment said.
A fire broke out, but was brought under control, authorities said.
A nearby tugboat responded to a distress call from the Conscience, which was carrying 12 crew members and four civilians, Malta’s government said, adding that those aboard refused to leave the ship.
Photo: Government of Malta, handout via Reuters
The group was safe and no injuries were reported, it said.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition accused Israel of attacking its ship. It did not provide evidence of that or that the fire was caused by drones, but in a video it shared, an explosion can be heard. Another video showed a fire blazing.
The Israeli army did not respond to a request for comment.
Israel has cut off Gaza from all imports, including food and medicine, since the beginning of March, leading to what is believed to be the worst humanitarian crisis in nearly 19 months of war with Hamas.
Israel said it is an attempt to pressure the militant group to release hostages it took on Oct. 7, 2023. Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel that day, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive.
In response, Israel launched an offensive that has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, the Gaza Health Ministry said.
Israel’s bombardment and ground operations have destroyed vast areas of the territory and left most of its population homeless.
Photos provided by the Cypriot authorities showed the ship with damage to its side.
Earlier the group said the strike appeared to have targeted the ship’s generator, causing a “substantial breach in the hull” and leaving it without power.
That put the vessel at risk of sinking, they added.
The incident comes as aid groups have warned that the humanitarian response in Gaza is on the verge of collapse.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) yesterday said it would not have access to food, medicine and other life-saving supplies needed for many of its Gaza programs if aid deliveries do not resume immediately.
Programs at risk include “common kitchens” that often give residents the only meal they receive each day and could be forced to halt operations in a few weeks, the ICRC said.
“Aid must be allowed to enter Gaza. Hostages must be released. Civilians must be protected,” it said. “Without immediate action, Gaza will descend further into chaos that humanitarian efforts will not be able to mitigate.”
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