Activists in Gaza claim a ship carrying humanitarian aid was struck by drones near Malta's coastline.
Title: Aid Vessel Conscience Attacked in International Waters, Raising Alarms over Gaza Aid Dispute
In international waters off Malta, a humanitarian aid ship was targeted by drone attacks, carrying essential supplies and volunteers bound for Gaza. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, orchestrating the mission, points the finger at Israel, despite lacking concrete evidence. Authorities in Israel have yet to respond to these accusations.
This assault came just two months after Israel imposed a complete blockade on the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza, including vital supplies like food and medicine.
Early Friday, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition shared video footage online, depicting the Conscience - the vessel targeted by the drone attack - engulfed in flames. The ship housed volunteers from over 21 countries, who had set sail from Malta.
"In the early hours of their scheduled departure, the vessel was attacked," the coalition stated, following the attack. Subsequent to the drone-caused fire and the significant breach of the hull, the ship issued an SOS distress signal.
"Israeli diplomats must be summoned and held answerable for violations of international law encompassing the ongoing blockade of Gaza and the bombing of our civilian vessel in international waters," the organization declares.
The Maltese government affirmed that everyone associated with the aid mission has been confirmed safe after executing a rescue operation. "The vessel accommodated 12 crew members and 4 civilian passengers; no casualties were reported," the government disclosed.
Released images show a tugboat extinguishing the fire on the damaged vessel post the alleged drone attack. The Conscience was approximately 10.5 miles from Malta's coast when it was attacked by two drones, as Yasemin Acar, organizer of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, informed NBC News from Malta.
Previously, the Pacific island nation of Palau had granted permission for the ship's flag registration. However, following the attack, the country's government revoked its agreement.
Panic and anxiety reigned aboard the vessel before the successful evacuation, Acar shared, adding that "everyone is in shock, and everyone is terrified."
Meanwhile, Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, pressed for support for the ship and its crew. UN authorities should work together to ascertain the facts and implement appropriate measures, Albanese stated.
Palestinian lawmaker Mustafa Barghouti accused Israel of acting like a pirate and violating international law with reckless abandon. Despite Freedom Flotilla Coalition's accusations against Israel, the country has still to respond to these allegations.
In the past, Israeli authorities have thwarted aid efforts and humanitarian groups seeking to ship aid to Gaza. A similar incident in 2010 ended in the deaths of nine people on board and injuries to multiple others when Israeli troops stopped and boarded a vessel near the coast of Gaza[2].
Since Israel commenced its offensive in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led terrorist attacks, more than 51,000 people have perished in Gaza, including countless children[6]. Over 1,200 people were killed during Hamas' attacks in southern Israel, with around 250 taken hostage[6].
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has worsened to its worst level in 18 months, as international aid groups and non-governmental organizations warn that aid systems are on the brink of collapse[4].
Israel's legal obligation to meet the fundamental needs of Gaza's civilian population under international humanitarian law remains unfulfilled, with the UN-run World Food Programme having exhausted food supplies in its Gaza warehouses and raising the specter of mass starvation[4].
On the ground in the Mawasi neighborhood in Gaza's southern city of Khan Younis, facilities like the Rafah Charitable Kitchen remain the sole providers for the displaced, who stand in long queues with empty pots to procure food for their families[4].
"We spend our nights hungry and our days hungry. We only consume water to assuage our hunger," 10-year-old Asmaa Al-Kurd expressed to NBC News[4].
"I spend all my time waiting in line to obtain food for my family," Al-Kurd lamented.
- The attack on the Conscience, a ship carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, has led the Freedom Flotilla Coalition to accuse Israel of violating international law, despite the lack of concrete evidence.
- In the midst of the political tension between Israel and Gaza, the stock market may experience volatility due to the ongoing war-and-conflicts and the general-news surrounding the blocked delivery of essential supplies to Gaza.
