What started as a humanitarian mission ended in panic and flames off the coast of Malta, as an aid ship bound for Gaza was reportedly struck by drones and left stranded at sea for hours—its 30 passengers stuck in limbo with no immediate help in sight.
The vessel, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), was carrying crucial humanitarian supplies for Gaza, which has been under an increasingly severe blockade.
But early on Friday morning, while still in international waters, the situation took a dramatic turn when an explosion tore through the ship, forcing it to send out a desperate SOS.
Chaos Unfolds at Sea After Attack Leaves Aid Ship Sinking
Footage released by the coalition shows fire engulfing parts of the ship.
FFC spokespersons say they believe drones specifically targeted the vessel’s front section and its generator, knocking out power and triggering a fast-moving blaze.
“There is a hole in the vessel right now and the ship is sinking,” said Yasemin Acar, the group’s press officer.
“Our vessel is 17 kilometers off Malta in international waters, and it has been subjected to a drone attack—twice.”
For nearly 10 hours, 30 international human rights activists were left stranded, awaiting a rescue that didn’t come nearly fast enough, according to the coalition.
Greta Thunberg Was Meant to Join the Mission
Climate and human rights activist Greta Thunberg was in Malta and scheduled to join the ship on the day of the attack.
She confirmed that she had planned to board as part of the coalition’s mission to break what she called Israel’s “illegal siege on Gaza.”
“This attack caused an explosion and major damage to the vessel, which made it impossible to continue the mission,” Thunberg said.
She described the voyage as one of many peaceful efforts to open a humanitarian corridor to Gaza.
Activists Demand Accountability and International Action
While the coalition stopped short of naming a specific attacker, they stressed that under international maritime law, Malta had a responsibility to intervene and provide aid.
They also issued a harsh rebuke to the international community.
“The lack of response and information about the rescue efforts breaches international customary law,” an FFC spokesperson told MailOnline.
They added that Israeli ambassadors must be summoned to answer for violations of international law.
UK Green Party foreign affairs spokesperson Ellie Chowns echoed the urgency: “I urge Malta—under its clear obligations in international maritime law—to act without delay.
I also call on the UK government to demand a full investigation into this alleged attack.”
Malta Responds, But Rescue Was Delayed
According to the Maltese government, they received a distress call just after midnight and dispatched a tugboat along with an Armed Forces patrol boat.
The fire was reportedly brought under control around 1:30 a.m., and by 3:45 a.m., all individuals aboard were confirmed safe.
However, those onboard refused to come ashore, determined to continue their mission.
Malta’s Armed Forces said they were closely monitoring the situation, while the UK Foreign Office confirmed it was in contact with authorities and watching developments.
The Humanitarian Stakes in Gaza Keep Getting Worse
This mission was never just symbolic—it was a response to a deepening humanitarian crisis.
The UN’s World Food Programme and UNRWA recently confirmed that food aid stocks had completely run out, and no humanitarian supplies have entered Gaza since early March when Israel closed all crossings.
The United Nations has already warned that the current conditions in Gaza are among the worst in recent history, with catastrophic shortages of essentials like food, water, and medical supplies.
The Ship, the Conscience, Had Just Set Sail From Tunisia
The vessel involved in the incident, named The Conscience, had set sail from Tunisia earlier in the week and had been sitting off the coast of Malta for about 12 hours before the suspected drone attack.
It flies under the flag of Palau, and according to tracking websites, it was preparing to dock in Malta to pick up additional passengers—including, possibly, Thunberg.
Thiago Avila, the FFC’s lead organiser, said the aim of this mission was simple: break the blockade, deliver aid, and challenge what they describe as an illegal siege on Gaza.
A Dangerous Pattern in Aid Missions to Gaza
This isn’t the first time the Freedom Flotilla has faced violence.
Back in 2010, a similar aid ship was boarded by Israeli troops, resulting in the deaths of nine activists.
Several other missions have been intercepted as well—some peacefully, others not.
The coalition remains undeterred. “We will keep trying to deliver aid, because the people of Gaza desperately need it,” one activist said.
But this latest incident has raised fresh fears about the safety of such missions and the international community’s willingness—or ability—to protect them.