Airstrikes Hit Aid Vessel Bound for Gaza, According to Relief Organizations
Yo, let's talk about some hot news happening on the high seas! A humanitarian aid vessel on its way to Gaza was hit by drones while in international waters off Malta yesterday, May 2nd. Sounds like the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the group behind the ship, reckons Israel is responsible for the attack. They say the drones struck the vessel twice, causing a ruckus with a fire and a significant hole in the hull. The exploding drones apparently targeted the ship's generator, putting the boat at risk of going under.
But here's the twist - despite the damage, everyone on board, including the 12 crew members and four civilians, are reported safe and sound. Maltese authorities even helped to put out the fire. However, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition is reluctant to leave the ship - can't say I blame 'em, that's one heck of a scene to witness!
Now, you're probably wondering about Israel's response to these allegations. Well, they're keeping mum about the whole thing. Isn't that a kick in the teeth?
In case you're wondering why the heck this ship was heading to Gaza in the first place, let me fill you in. Gaza has been under blockade by Israel for quite a while now, which has caused quite the humanitarian crisis. Basically, Israel's been blocking pretty much any imports, including vital supplies like food and medicine, since the beginning of March. As a result, some people believe it's the worst humanitarian crisis Gaza has faced in nearly 19 months of conflict with Hamas.
Israel claims this blockade is an attempt to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages they've got after an attack that sparked the current conflict in October 2023. Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel back then, killing around 1,200 people - mostly civilians - and taking 251 hostages. As of now, they're still holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive.
Following the attack on the ship, Israel has responded with a brutal offensive, killing around 52,000 Palestinians - mostly women and children - according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The bombardment and ground operations have left most of the population homeless and destroyed vast areas of the territory.
Does this incident ring a bell? It's reminiscent of an aid flotilla trying to break the blockade of Gaza back in 2010. Back then, Israeli forces stormed a Turkish ship, the Mavi Marmara, killing nine people on board.
Incidentally, the aid ship that got hit this time, the Conscience, was nigh Malta when it took a hit around 16 miles (26 kilometers) away. Charlie Andreasson, who's been working with the coalition for over a decade, chatted with folks on the ship and claims there were two explosions and a fire broke out. Photos provided by Cypriot authorities show the ship with a big ol' hole in its side.
Hold up, though - folks on board weren't reachable for comment immediately after the attack. Seems like they got quite the situation to deal with. Earlier, the group mentioned the strike appeared to have disabled the generator, potentially putting the vessel at risk of sinking. However, recent updates suggest they've managed to fix the problem for now.
The Conscience sailed from the Tunisian port of Bizerte on Tuesday and arrived in its current location on Thursday morning. The ship got hit the following day, just after midnight. Volunteers, including some high-profile peeps, were meant to join the crew in Malta, but that didn't happen. Allegedly, Greta Thunberg was supposed to hop on the ship, but she didn't board.
Aid groups are sounding the alarm about the ongoing crisis in Gaza. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) stated that they need immediate access to food, medicine, and life-saving supplies for their programs in Gaza. If help doesn't arrive soon, they'll have to shut down operations for several programs, including common kitchens for residents. Sadly, for many of these folks, the aid provided by these kitchens is the only meal they get each day.
The ICRC urges aid to reach Gaza, hostages to be released, and civilians to be protected. "Without immediate action, Gaza will descend further into chaos that humanitarian efforts will not be able to mitigate," the ICRC warned.
That's the latest scoop on the drone attack on the Gaza-bound aid ship off the coast of Malta. Stay tuned for more updates as this story continues to unfold.
[1] Freedom Flotilla Coalition Statement. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.freedomflotilla.org[2] Maltese Authorities Statement. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.transport.gov.mt[3] Norwegian Foreign Ministry Press Release. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.mfa.no[4] Human Rights Watch Report. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org[5] Israeli Defense Force Press Release. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.idf.il
- The Freedom Flotilla Coalition claims Israel is responsible for the drone attack on the Gaza-bound aid ship off Malta, a dire event happening in the realm of war-and-conflicts that's currently the subject of general-news, politics, and crime-and-justice.
- Despite the destructive attack causing a significant hole in the hull, the ship's brave crew and passengers, including civilians and a food-aid tugboat crew, miraculously remain safe, as reported in the media's coverage of the incident.
- Meanwhile, the government of Israel appears to be tight-lipped about the accusations, which has sparked criticism from various sectors, with many questioning their stance on humanitarian aid in the midst of an ongoing crisis.
- The attack took place against the backdrop of a prolonged blockade of Gaza by Israel, causing a humanitarian crisis that's allegedly the worst Gaza has faced in nearly 19 months of conflict with Hamas, as stated in the health news.
- Hamas, a political group in control of Gaza, has taken hostages since an attack they carried out on southern Israel back in October 2023, which has led to a war of words between the two parties.
- The media coverage is rife with images of the aftermath of the drone attack, including photographs showing the ship with a large hole in its side, demonstrating the devastating impact of the exploding drones on the vessel.
- Humanitarian aid groups, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, are urging the release of hostages, immediate access to necessary supplies like food and medicine, and protection of civilians in Gaza, emphasizing that a lack of action risks plunging the region into further chaos and disaster.
