A ship transiting the Mediterranean Sea carrying aid intended for Gaza was attacked by what organizers of the humanitarian vessel called a drone attack.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the group behind the mission, said it was on the Conscience off Malta’s coast when the vessel was attacked, which caused a fire and “substantial breach in the hull,” according to a statement released by the group.
The ship left Tunisia earlier this week and was scheduled to stop in Malta, where the group intended to pick up more volunteers.
The group of “international human rights activists” was about to embark on a “nonviolent humanitarian mission to challenge Israel’s illegal and deadly siege of Gaza.” However, the group is now demanding, “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.”
The Maltese government said the Malta Vessel Traffic Services received a mayday call from the ship, and the crew reported a fire on its bow. There were 12 crew members and four civilian passengers aboard at the time, and no casualties were reported, the government said.
A tugboat arrived on the scene and began firefighting operations, and the fires have since been controlled. However, the people on the ship “refused to board the tug.”
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The Maltese government did not specify what caused the fire.
The Israeli government has historically blocked humanitarian ships from trying to get to Gaza’s coast. It has cut off aid supplies since March, following the breakdown of ceasefire talks with Hamas.