A group of activists attempting to sail a vessel toward Gaza claim their ship was hit by drones while navigating international waters near Malta, with suspicions pointing toward Israel as the likely perpetrator.
According to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, their vessel—named The Conscience—came under attack at 12:23 a.m. local time on Friday. The crew reportedly issued a distress signal immediately following the incident.
Audio of the SOS transmission, reportedly captured by a crew member aboard a nearby oil tanker, was shared with the BBC. In the recording, the captain of The Conscience can be clearly heard describing drone strikes and a fire aboard the ship.
Authorities in Malta later confirmed that all individuals on board were safe and that the fire was successfully contained overnight.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition announced its intention to sail to Gaza with several individuals onboard, including prominent climate activist Greta Thunberg. The goal of the mission, they stated, was to challenge what they described as Israel’s unlawful blockade and siege of Gaza.
In response to the attack, the organization called on governments to summon Israeli ambassadors to explain what it called a breach of international law—citing both the blockade and the reported strike on their civilian ship.
The Israeli military has said it is currently reviewing the claims regarding the reported incident.
Organizers informed the BBC that the voyage had been kept strictly confidential, with a complete media blackout in place, to avoid interference or sabotage as the group prepared for its journey toward Gaza. The territory, home to roughly two million Palestinians, has been under a full Israeli military blockade for the past two months.
Surya McEwen, a volunteer associated with the flotilla, reported that contact with the vessel was lost following the attack, which allegedly caused a fire and structural damage to the hull. They were later informed that no serious injuries had occurred.
“It’s a very serious situation, but the crew is recovering,” McEwen told the BBC. He described the strike as an “unprovoked assault on a civilian ship in international waters,” emphasizing that the mission was humanitarian in nature.
Greta Thunberg, who had planned to join the journey once the ship departed for Gaza on Friday, spoke to reporters in Valetta. She confirmed her involvement, saying, “I was among those scheduled to board the ship today as part of an effort to reach Gaza. This is one of many initiatives aimed at establishing a humanitarian corridor and challenging the ongoing blockade.”
Thunberg also mentioned that the vessel remained at the site of the incident due to concerns that moving it could worsen flooding caused by hull damage.
“What we do know is that we, as human rights defenders, will continue to push forward. We will keep advocating for a free Palestine and call for the urgent opening of a humanitarian corridor,” she said.
According to Maltese authorities, the ship had 12 crew members and four activists aboard at the time of the incident. However, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition reported that a total of 30 activists were part of the mission.
The group also released a video showing the ship engulfed in flames. They claimed the attack appeared to have specifically targeted the vessel’s generator, resulting in a complete loss of power and placing the ship at risk of sinking.
According to the Maltese authorities, a tugboat was deployed to the site to contain the blaze onboard the vessel. The fire was reportedly brought under control by 1:28 a.m. local time.
In a public statement, officials noted that by 2:13 a.m., all crew members had been accounted for and were confirmed safe. However, they declined to board the tugboat sent to assist them. The vessel remains in international waters, outside Malta’s maritime boundaries.
Activists involved in the mission stated that Cyprus also responded to the SOS distress call by dispatching a support vessel. However, they claimed the ship that arrived did not provide the essential electrical power assistance they had urgently requested.
Marine tracking systems indicate that The Conscience departed Tunisia on Tuesday evening and is currently positioned approximately 12 to 14 nautical miles from the Maltese coast.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organized the voyage, continues to advocate for the lifting of Israel’s blockade on Gaza—an action that has faced increasing international criticism. Just last month, the foreign ministers of the UK, France, and Germany described Israel’s ongoing restriction of aid as “unacceptable.”
Gaza’s humanitarian crisis has worsened significantly since Israel sealed off all border crossings two months ago, halting the flow of essential goods such as food, fuel, and medicine. The closure was followed by the resumption of Israeli military operations, which ended a previous two-month truce with Hamas.
Relief agencies have raised alarm over the dire conditions. The World Food Programme has reported that its supplies are exhausted, and community kitchens are warning that they could run out of food within days. On Friday, the International Committee of the Red Cross warned that the humanitarian system in Gaza is on the brink of collapse.
Israel’s renewed military campaign was launched in retaliation for the surprise attack carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals and the abduction of 251 more.
Since the conflict reignited, the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health in Gaza reports that at least 52,418 people have died as a result of the ongoing military operations.
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