The Conscience, a ship carrying humanitarian aid and activists to Gaza was attacked by drones in international waters near Malta early Friday, according to the international NGO Freedom Flotilla Coalition. The NGO accused Israel of carrying out the strike, although no evidence was immediately provided to support the claim.
The drone strikes caused extensive damage to the ship, including a breach in the hull, leaving it at risk of sinking. The ship’s crew, consisting of 12 crew members and four civilians, remained unharmed in the attack but was left stranded after the ship’s generator was damaged. The Maltese government responded to the distress call and dispatched a patrol vessel, while a nearby tugboat assisted with firefighting operations.
The Conscience was part of an international effort to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, which has severely restricted the entry of food, medicine, and other essentials since March 2023. Prominent climate activist Greta Thunberg, who had been scheduled to join the mission, was in Malta at the time of the attack.
