Ffc accuses Israel

NGO ship hit by drone off Malta: attack on Freedom flotilla coalition

Freedom flotilla coalition boat attacked by drone: 16 human rights activists rescued and left on board

2 May 2025Aggiornato il 2 maggio 2025, ore 11:00

Un rimorchiatore spegne un incendio sulla nave della Ffc Conscience al di fuori delle acque territoriali maltesi in questa foto fornita dal Dipartimento dell’Informazione del Governo di Malta, 2 maggio 2025. Governo di Malta/Documento via Reuters

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Key points

"There is a hole in the boat right now and it is sinking."
Accusations against Israel

2' min read

A vessel of the Freedom flotilla coalition (Ffc) on its way to the Gaza Strip - the ship Conscience - was damaged tonight after being hit by a drone off Malta, in international waters.

"At 00:23 Maltese time, a Freedom Flotilla ship was the victim of a drone attack. The front of the vessel was hit twice, causing a fire and a breach in the hull. The ship is currently in international waters near Malta. An SOS distress signal has been sent,' reads the X account of the Freedom flotilla coalition (Ffc), engaged in a campaign to end the Israeli blockade of Gaza.

"There is a hole in the boat right now and it is sinking"

"We have 30 international human rights activists on that ship right now, on a sinking ship," added the coalition press officer, reached by phone in Malta. Exaggerating. The Maltese authorities said in a note that all the people on board the ship were 'safe and sound'. Din Valletta they explained that there were 12 crew members and 4 civilian passengers on the boat.

"The tugboat arrived on the scene and started fire-fighting operations," the Maltese government said, contradicting the claim of pro-Palestinian activists that Malta did not respond to the distress call for several hours.

The coalition accused Malta of failing to respond to the distress call despite the fact that the ship was within the search and rescue area under Maltese jurisdiction.

The Maltese government disputed this accusation, reporting that Transport Malta immediately sent a tugboat and that a patrol of the Armed Forces of Malta (Afm) was present to help extinguish the fire.

Accusations against Israel

In a statement, the coalition accused an Israeli military drone of being responsible for the attack, calling it a violation of international law.

"The Israeli ambassadors must be summoned and answer for violations of international law, including the ongoing blockade and bombing of our civilian ship in international waters."Israel did not comment on the allegation.

The attack, the activists said, appeared to hit the boat's generator. It left the boat without power and at risk of sinking, the note added

Greta Thunberg was to embark in Malta.

Climate activist Greta Thunberg was due to embark in Malta on the Conscience ship bound for the Gaza Strip to bring humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population.

Ffc activists told CNN, pointing out that the activist was not on board the ship when the fire caused by a drone attack in international waters off the coast of Malta broke out.

Also due to board the ship was retired US Army colonel Mary Ann Wright.

"Volunteers from over 21 countries travelled to Malta to embark on the mission to Gaza, including prominent figures," the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said in a note, pointing out that it had not previously communicated the mission to the media to avoid sabotage actions.