Gaza-Bound Humanitarian Ship Allegedly Bombed by Drones

A Gaza-bound ship carrying humanitarian aid and activists was, according to its organizers, bombed by drones in international waters early on Friday morning. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the organizers of the mission, have alleged that Israel is responsible for the attack.

Video footage, verified by Reuters and captured by those on board as well as from the ship’s CCTV, purportedly shows the moment the vessel, named the Conscience, was struck off the Maltese coast. The Israeli foreign ministry did not immediately respond to the allegations made by the international non-governmental group.

While the Maltese government has confirmed that all individuals on board are safe, the NGO and Swedish activist Greta Thunberg have maintained that the ship is still in danger. Thunberg, who was supposed to be on board the vessel, expressed concern over the extent of the damage caused by the attack.

According to Thunberg, “The ship is currently still at the location where it was attacked because if it were to move, too much water would come in, risking a potential sinking. So, that is where we stand at the moment.”

The Maltese government reported that maritime authorities responded to a distress call, with a nearby tug boat rushing to the scene to initiate firefighting operations. Despite the rescue efforts, the crew of the Conscience refused to board the tug, highlighting that there were 12 crew members and four civilians on board.

The Freedom Flotilla released a statement on its website confirming that the alleged drone strikes had caused a substantial breach in the hull of the ship. The coalition had been organizing a non-violent mission under a media blackout to prevent any potential sabotage.

Since March 2, Israel has imposed a complete blockade on all supplies to the 2.3 million residents of Gaza. The region is facing a severe humanitarian crisis, with food shortages becoming increasingly dire as stockpiles from earlier ceasefires have been depleted.

This incident is not the first time a coalition ship attempting to deliver aid to Gaza has faced intervention from Israeli forces. In a similar mission in 2010, Israeli troops boarded a coalition ship, resulting in the deaths of nine activists. While other ships have been intercepted and boarded in the past, casualties have been avoided.

As the situation unfolds, the international community is closely monitoring the developments surrounding the Conscience and the safety of those on board.

(Reuters)