Drone Attack Douses Gaza Aid Ship Off Malta

A harrowing situation that has sent shockwaves through the international community, a ship laden with humanitarian aid destined for Gaza was attacked by drones on Friday, 2nd May, just off the coast of Malta. This vessel, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was on the way to the besieged enclave, which has been under a total blockade by Israel for the past 2 months.

The activists aboard the ship, known as the Conscience, have expressed their strong suspicions that Israel is behind this brazen assault, which, fortunately, resulted in no injuries.

However, Cypriot rescue services reported being alerted by Maltese authorities regarding an Israeli drone strike.

The Israeli military, when contacted by AFP, declined to comment on the matter.

The Assault
At precisely 00:23 local time (22:23 GMT), the Conscience was directly targeted in international waters, as confirmed by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.

Armed drones struck the bow of the unarmed civilian vessel not once, but twice, igniting a fire and causing a significant breach in the hull.

The organisation has since called for the summoning of Israeli ambassadors to account for these violations of international law, including the ongoing blockade and the bombardment of their civilian ship in international waters.

Rescue and Recovery Efforts
Following the intervention of Maltese and Cypriot rescue teams, who worked tirelessly to extinguish the flames, a spokesperson for the Freedom Flotilla in France informed AFP that the crew aboard the vessel was no longer in danger.

“The fire caused by the initial strike has been contained, and the hole in the hull has been sealed. Water is no longer entering,” stated Claude Leostic.

Context of Israeli Operations
Israel has a history of conducting intelligence operations beyond its borders, a fact it has only acknowledged in the wake of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which erupted on 7 October 2023.

The Freedom Flotilla, established in 2010, is an international non-violent movement aimed at expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people, advocating for humanitarian aid, and challenging the blockade of Gaza.

Impact on the Vessel
According to the activists, the ship’s electricity was cut off following the attack, which appeared to target the generator.

After issuing a distress signal, Malta dispatched a tugboat that managed to bring the fire under control approximately one hour after the assault, at 01:28 (23:28 GMT), as per a Maltese statement.

Cypriot maritime rescue services also responded promptly, with the Larnaca centre reporting that they had been informed by the Cypriot Foreign Ministry of a vessel likely carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza that had been struck by an Israeli drone missile within Malta’s search and rescue zone.

International Condemnations and Historical Parallels
This incident has drawn condemnation from various quarters, including Turkey, which has labelled the attack on a civilian vessel as an egregious violation of international norms.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has called for all necessary measures to swiftly uncover the truth behind the attack and hold those responsible accountable.

The Gaza Blockade and Humanitarian Crisis
The blockade of Gaza, imposed by Israel since 2 March, has led to a humanitarian crisis of catastrophic proportions, with operations on the brink of total collapse, as reported by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The Hamas movement has denounced the drone strike as “an act of piracy and state terrorism.”

A Haunting Memory: The 2010 Flotilla Incident
In 2010, Israel launched a deadly assault on a similar flotilla attempting to break the Gaza blockade, resulting in the deaths of ten activists and injuries to twenty-eight others, haunting memories that cast a long shadow over the current events.

The Tragically Rising Human Toll
The tragic backdrop to this incident is the ongoing war in Gaza, which has claimed the lives of 1,218 individuals on the Israeli side, predominantly civilians, according to AFP’s tally based on official figures.

Meanwhile, the Hamas Health Ministry has reported that since the onset of hostilities, a staggering 52,418 Palestinians have lost their lives, including at least 2,326 since Israel ended a two-month ceasefire on 18 March.

A Call for Humanity Amidst Despair
As the world watches, the plight of those in Gaza remains dire, and the call for humanitarian aid grows ever more urgent amidst the shadows of conflict and the spectre of history repeating itself.

© Agence France-Presse

Source: Defi Media