The Freedom Flotilla Coalition asks Israel a response to violations of international law, including the blockade and the “bombing of our civilian ship”.
A ship carrying aid to Gaza in order to break the blockade of Israel was affected by drones in international waters off Malta, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), the group that organized the mission.
The FFC said on Friday in a statement that the ship, now located 14 nabin miles (25 km) from Malta, was the target of two drone strikes when it went to Gaza. The ship had sought to provide help to the besieged enclave, where help groups warn people who have trouble surviving after a total blockage of two months by Israel.
“Armed drones attacked twice in front of an unarmed civilian ship, causing fire and substantial violation in the hull,” said the group.
The declaration did not directly accuse Israel of having conducted the attack.
However, this required that “Israeli ambassadors should be summoned and respond to violations of international law, including the current blockade and the bombing of our civilian ship in international waters”.
Israel did not comment on drone strikes.
Breaking: at 00:23 Maltese weather, a #FreEdomflotilla The ship was subjected to a drone attack. The front of the ship was targeted twice, causing a fire and a breach in the shell. The ship is currently located in the international waters #Malta. A #Sos A distress signal was sent. pic.twitter.com/j6oeqafuob
– Freedom Flotilla Coalition (@gazafflotilla) May 2, 2025
Nicole Jènes of the FFC told Tel Aviv Tribune that the attack on consciousness at 12:23 p.m. local time (10:23 GMT) Friday morning exploded a hole in the ship and set fire to the engine.
The strike left 30 Turkish and Azérant activists on board engage in a frantic effort to bail out the water and keep the ship afloat, she added.
The group’s statement said that “a southern ship of Cyprus” was sent after sending SOS calls.
Later Friday, the Maltese government said in a statement that the fire on the ship had been under control and that the ship was watched by the authorities. It was not clear if the authorities had directly intervened to put out the fire and what happened to the activists.
JENES, currently in Malta, said that the group was not aware of the situation on board the ship because communication with the crew had been lost.
“They were hiding overnight in the chambers of the ship because they were afraid of drones … We lost contact with them,” she said.
‘On the verge of total collapse’
The FFC, formed by peace activists from several countries last year, uses a converted trawler to try to challenge the blockade of Israel on Gaza.
Israel interrupted humanitarian aid two months ago, shortly before he broke a cease-fire and restarted his war against Hamas, which devastated the Palestinian enclave and killed more than 50,000 people.
“It is very important to … understand that this attack is an extension of the genocide that occurs in Gaza and cannot pass unpunished,” said Jnes, insisting that the FFC asks the world to turn your eyes to the blockade.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said in a report published on Friday that the humanitarian response to Gaza was “on the verge of total collapse”.
“Six weeks of intense hostilities, combined with a complete blockage of aid for two months, left civilians without the essential elements they need to survive. Without immediate resumption of aid deliveries, it will not have access to food, drugs and rescue supplies to support many of its programs in Gaza, “said the ICRC.