IRIA News

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A humanitarian aid ship bound for Gaza, organized by the Freedom Flotilla and Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, was attacked by drones in international waters near Malta on May 2, 2025. The attack is suspected to have been carried out by Israeli forces.

The targeted vessel, named Conscience, was part of a planned action by the Freedom Flotilla aimed at breaking the Israeli blockade on Gaza and delivering much-needed humanitarian assistance.

The group released video footage of the incident, showing a fire on board, lights in the sky, and audible explosions. The incident took place while the ship was in international waters, outside Malta’s territorial jurisdiction.

The Maltese government confirmed that a mayday call was received shortly after midnight. The message indicated that the ship had 12 crew members and four civilians on board and was experiencing a fire.

A nearby tugboat was dispatched for firefighting operations, and a Maltese patrol vessel was also sent to the area. Authorities stated that after several hours, the vessel and its crew were “secure,” but added that the crew had refused to board the tug.

Despite this official account, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg reported that the ship remained in danger and had sustained severe damage.

BREAKING: At 00:23 Maltese time, a #FreedomFlotilla ship was subjected to a drone attack. The front of the vessel was targeted twice, resulting in a fire and a breach in the hull. The ship is currently located in international waters near #Malta. An #SOS distress signal was sent. pic.twitter.com/J6oEQafuOb

— Freedom Flotilla Coalition (@GazaFFlotilla) May 2, 2025

“The drone strike appears to have deliberately targeted the ship’s generator, leaving the crew without power and placing the vessel at great risk of sinking,” the NGO stated in an official statement. It described the attack as a “substantial breach in the hull” and alleged that the strike occurred just as the ship was preparing to receive activists from another nearby vessel.

Caoimhe Butterly, a spokeswoman for the Freedom Flotilla, said that a mid-sea transfer of passengers had been planned instead of docking at a port due to bureaucratic constraints. The Freedom Flotilla emphasized that its mission was strictly non-violent and had been conducted under a media blackout to prevent sabotage. The group insists that the number of people on board was 30, nearly double the 16 reported by Maltese authorities.

Greta Thunberg also added the context to the incident, stating that “this attack caused an explosion and major damage to the vessel, which made it impossible to continue the mission,” during a Zoom call interview following the incident.

“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,” she said.

“As far as I know, the vessel is still at the location where it had been attacked and still in imminent danger,” Thunberg said, underlining the precarious situation faced by those on board.

“Israeli ambassadors must be summoned and answer to violations of international law, including the ongoing blockade (of Gaza) and the bombing of our civilian vessel in international waters,” said the Freedom Flotilla in its statement.

Hamas issued a statement condemning the incident, labeling it “piracy” and “state terrorism” carried out by Israel.

This recent incident is not without precedent. A similar Freedom Flotilla mission in 2010 ended in tragedy when Israeli forces boarded a ship and killed nine activists. While other ships in the past have been intercepted without fatalities, the threat of violence has always loomed over such missions.

The Freedom Flotilla’s failed attempt to break the siege on Gaza highlights the increasing desperation among activists and international groups to deliver aid as the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza deepens.

The group maintains that its actions are lawful under international maritime regulations, given the dire humanitarian situation and the location of the ship in international waters.

While Israeli authorities have remained silent on the matter so far, pressure is mounting from activists and some governments for a transparent investigation into the incident. The question of whether this act constitutes a violation of international law remains central to the debate.

For now, the damaged vessel is stranded at sea, and the fate of the humanitarian supplies and the activists on board hangs in the balance. The international community watches closely as this event adds another chapter to the increasingly tense and deadly saga surrounding the Gaza blockade.

The flotilla incident has drawn international attention, particularly in the backdrop of ongoing violence in Gaza. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Since then, Israel’s military response has led to the deaths of more than 52,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in Gaza.

Israel has cut off all supplies to the enclave’s 2.3 million residents, leading to widespread starvation and a humanitarian crisis. Food that had been stockpiled during a temporary ceasefire at the beginning of the year has been exhausted. Now, Gaza’s community kitchens — the last reliable source of meals for hundreds of thousands — are days away from shutting down, aid groups warn.

The Gaza government says famine is no longer a threat but a reality, with 52 people, including 50 children, dead from hunger and malnutrition. Over 10,000 cases of child malnutrition have been reported, and at least 60,000 children show signs of severe hunger. Without immediate aid, the humanitarian situation is expected to deteriorate even further.