A ship operated by a human rights group aiming to challenge the blockade of Gaza was damaged by explosions and fire Friday in international waters off the coast of Malta, according to the group.
The vessel, named the Conscience, is part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and was carrying humanitarian aid and activists. The group stated it believed the ship was struck by a drone attack.
The ship was scheduled to stop in Malta to pick up additional passengers, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, a spokeswoman for the group confirmed.
Greta Thunberg stated she was in Malta and prepared to board the ship as part of the planned action to support Gaza. The damage sustained made continuing the voyage impossible.
The Maltese government confirmed maritime authorities responded to a distress call from a vessel outside territorial waters reporting a fire. A tugboat assisted firefighting operations, and the vessel and crew were secured, according to a government statement.
The group suggested an Israeli drone strike was responsible for the explosion. Israel's foreign ministry has not commented on the allegation.
Following the incident, activists reported that authorities in Malta, Greece, and Turkey have threatened to confiscate the vessel if it attempts to come to port. The ship's flag state, Palau, reportedly revoked its flag prior to the attack.
The Conscience sustained damage to its generator and requires repair. It remains offshore amid uncertainty about where it can dock without being seized.
The incident occurs within the broader context of the Gaza war, where Israel maintains a blockade, citing security concerns and alleging Hamas diverts aid. International aid agencies have reported difficulties delivering supplies, noting that Israel completely cut off all supplies since March 2.
A previous Freedom Flotilla mission to Gaza in 2010 resulted in deaths when Israeli forces boarded a ship.
Greta Thunberg described the mission: "I was part of the group who was supposed to board that boat today to continue the voyage towards Gaza, which is one of many attempts to open up a humanitarian corridor and to do our part to keep trying to break Israel's illegal siege on Gaza."
