A ship belonging to the Gaza aid group Freedom Flotilla Coalition suffered a fire overnight in what the NGO has said was an armed drone attack in international waters just outside Malta’s territory.
The group said in a statement on its website that it had come “under direct attack in international waters.”
Maltese authorities said in a statement on Friday morning that a tugboat had responded to the emergency and that an Armed Forces of Malta vessel was also dispatched to the site.
Freedom Flotilla said that it had been organizing a nonviolent action under a media black out to avoid any potential sabotage.
“On the morning of their scheduled departure, the vessel was attacked. Armed drones attacked the front of an unarmed civilian vessel twice, causing a fire and a substantial breach in the hull,” the group said.
“The drone strike appears to have deliberately targeted the ship’s generator, leaving the crew without power and placing the vessel at great risk of sinking<’it said.
The Department of Information said on Friday that a fire on board what it described as a passenger vessel outside Maltese territorial waters was brought under control earlier in the morning, with no one reported injured.
Just after midnight local time, Malta Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) received a Mayday call from the passenger vessel Conscience, reporting a fire on the bow while outside territorial waters, the DOI statement said.
The vessel had 12 crew members on board and 4 civilian passengers; no casualties were reported. The crew confirmed the fire was not under control and requested immediate assistance.
At 12.21am, a nearby tug located approximately 1 nautical mile away contacted Malta VTS, confirmed it was firefighting-equipped, and offered immediate support.
The tug arrived on scene and began firefighting operations. By 1.28am, the fire was reported under control. An Armed Forces of Malta patrol vessel was also dispatched to provide further assistance.
The Maltese authorities said that at 2.13am, all crew were confirmed safe but refused to board the tug. Assistance was provided to support interior firefighting efforts.
By 3.45am, the vessel and its crew were secure.
The ship remains outside territorial waters and being monitored by the competent authorities, the statement said.
Freedom Flotilla said that it had international human rights activists onboard for a “nonviolent humanitarian mission to challenge Israel’s illegal and deadly siege of Gaza, and to deliver desperately needed, life-saving aid.”
It said that Israeli ambassadors must be summoned and answer to violations of international law, including the ongoing blockade and the bombing of our civilian vessel in international waters.
Environmental and human rights activist Greta Thunberg has spoken out after an incident involving the Freedom Flotilla. The Times of Malta reports that she was among 40 humanitarians – including Maltese nationals – preparing to board a Gaza aid mission vessel on Friday.
“For the last week, we have been trying to start the voyage of the boat Conscience towards Gaza to deliver desperately needed humanitarian aid and end the siege,” Thunberg stated. “Two million people are being deliberately starved by Israel in Gaza and it is our responsibility as human beings to do everything in our power to try demand an end to that,” she told The Times.
Commenting on Friday morning’s events, Thunberg described it as “yet another crystal clear example of how international law and human rights are being completely disrespected.” She expressed deep concern for those aboard the boats and highlighted how close the incident occurred to EU territory.
Thunberg affirmed that the mission would continue. “The situation is very uncertain, but we will continue as part of the Freedom Flotilla and a wider global solidarity movement for a free Palestine to demand an end to the illegal siege, occupation, and genocide,” she said.