In a dramatic incident, drones allegedly attacked a humanitarian aid vessel destined for Gaza while it was in international waters near Malta. The organization coordinating the shipment reported this latest clash in the ongoing effort to deliver assistance to the war-stricken Palestinian region, which has been enduring nearly 19 months of conflict. The crisis escalates as the Gaza Strip remains isolated due to an Israeli blockade.
The Conscience, the vessel involved, sent a distress call when a fire erupted onboard, leading to the response from a nearby tugboat. Maltese officials confirmed there were 12 crew members and four civilians on the Conscience, none of whom suffered serious injuries, although they all declined to evacuate. Despite video footage showing an explosion and subsequent fire, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition did not furnish definitive proof linking the fire to an Israeli drone attack. Israel has not publicly commented on the accusations.
Mecid Bagcivan, a Turkish activist aboard the Conscience, described two explosions that occurred shortly after midnight, initially mistook for a collision. Realizing they were under attack, the crew sought emergency assistance from Malta. During this chaos, an unidentified person pretended to cancel the distress call, complicating the situation, and leaving the crew to battle the fire unaided initially. Eventually, help arrived, and the fire was subdued, with the vessel attempting to retreat to Maltese waters amid apprehensions of subsequent attacks.
Visual evidence filmed post-attack depicts substantial damage to the ship’s deck, revealing large holes and thick plumes of smoke. This footage, shared by the peace organization Codepink, highlighted the significant impairment of the ship’s generator. Charlie Andreasson, part of the Freedom Flotilla for years, noted that the vessel is stuck without a means to secure a new flag promptly due to jurisdictional disputes, leaving it stationed in the open sea.
This incident underscores the high tensions surrounding Israel’s ongoing blockade of Gaza, which aims to pressurize Hamas into releasing hostages taken during a violent offensive on October 7, 2023. The offensive led to a retaliatory Israeli military campaign, which has resulted in substantial casualties and widespread destruction in Gaza, sparking a dire humanitarian crisis. Historical precedents like the 2010 flotilla incident that resulted in fatalities continue to remind of the flashpoints such efforts to break blockades can become.
The Conscience, which had departed from Tunisia before heading towards Gaza, seemed part of a mission to challenge the blockade. Volunteers waiting in Malta, including climate activist Greta Thunberg who was initially scheduled to join the mission but later confirmed to be safe, plan to board the vessel. The attack received international condemnation, with Turkey vowing to address the incident as it poses a hazard to maritime security and freedom of navigation.
Humanitarian organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, have voiced alarm over the dwindling resources in Gaza. They underscore the urgent need for aid deliveries, indicating that essential programs could collapse if the blockade remains, jeopardizing civilian safety and access to necessities like food and medicine. Calls for immediate remedial action emphasize the critical need for resumed humanitarian efforts to prevent further deterioration of the situation.