An aid ship heading to Gaza caught fire and issued an SOS call after reportedly being attacked by drones off the coast of Malta – leaving 30 activists stranded in the ocean for almost 10 hours.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), an international NGO, say their vessel was assaulted while in international waters early this morning.
Harrowing footage shows a fire raging on the ship, which the organisation says was loaded with supplies for the besieged territory.
Human rights activist Greta Thunberg is in Malta and was supposed to have boarded the ship, according to the NGO.
The coalition said that the ‘front of the vessel was targeted twice, resulting in a fire and a breach in the hull’ – but that no countries had responded to their SOS call.
They believe that the front of the vessel was the target, but did not directly accuse any specific party of carrying out the attack.
‘There is a hole in the vessel right now and the ship is sinking,’ Yasemin Acar, the coalition’s press officer, told CNN.
‘Our vessel is 17 kilometers off the shores of Malta right now in international waters, and they have been subjected to a drone attack twice.
‘We have 30 international human rights activists on that vessel at this very moment on a vessel that is sinking.’
Harrowing footage shows a fire raging on the ship, which the organisation says was loaded with supplies for the besieged territory
The coalition said that the ‘front of the vessel was targeted twice, resulting in a fire and a breach in the hull’ – but that no countries had responded to their SOS call
Yasemin Acar, the coalition’s press officer, said: ‘Our vessel is 17 kilometers off the shores of Malta right now in international waters, and they have been subjected to a drone attack twice’
‘Under international maritime law, Malta has an obligation to act & ensure the safety of a civilian ship in distress within its proximity,’ the NGO added in a social media post.
Acar said the ship had ‘sent out SOS calls to the surrounding countries, including Malta’ and that a ‘small boat’ from southern Cyprus had been sent.
She added she had been able to contact crew members after the SOS signal was sent out.
A FFC spokesperson told MailOnline today: ‘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.
‘On board are international human rights activists on a nonviolent humanitarian mission to challenge Israel’s illegal and deadly siege of Gaza, and to deliver desperately needed, life-saving aid.
‘The lack of response and information about the rescue efforts breaches international customary law.
‘Israeli ambassadors must be summoned and answer to violations of international law, including the ongoing blockade and the bombing of our civilian vessel in international waters.’
The Israeli military said it was looking into reports of the attack.
Ellie Chowns, the UK Green Party’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson, told MailOnline: ‘My thoughts are with everyone still aboard as the vessel fights to stay afloat, and I urge Malta—under its clear obligations in international maritime law—to act without delay to ensure their safety.
‘I call on the UK Government to raise this urgently with international bodies, to demand a full investigation into this alleged attack, and to ensure accountability so those responsible are brought to justice.
‘Beyond the investigation, we must redouble our diplomatic efforts to establish secure corridors for life-saving supplies into Gaza, where severe shortages of food and medical aid have only worsened under the ongoing blockade.’
In an official statement, the Maltese government confirmed that a distress call was received at 12.20am and a tugboat close to where the ship was immediately offered assistance, according to MaltaToday.
An Armed Forces of Malta patrol boat was also dispatched to the area, with the fire brought under control at 1.28am.
The government said all crew and passengers on board were confirmed to be safe at 3.45am and refused to be brought ashore.
A spokesperson for the Armed Forces of Malta said: ‘We are monitoring the situation closely.’
UK Foreign Office sources said today that they are in touch with local authorities over the incident and continue to monitor developments.
FFC’s lead organiser Thiago Avila the ship had been due to dock in Malta on Thursday to pick up additional passengers, which could have included Thunberg.
Marine traffic websites show the ship, the Conscience, departed Tunisia on Tuesday night.
Tracking data showed it had been in its position off the coast of Malta for around 12 hours before the alleged attack occurred on Friday morning.
The Conscience is listed as flying under a Palau flag.
Activists wash the deck of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship ‘Handala’ as they prepare to sail for Gaza in 2024
Humanitarian aid and supplies have not entered the Gaza Strip since March 2, when Israel shut all crossings into Gaza
Recently, the UN’s World Food Programme and UNRWA, the agency for Palestinian refugees, said they had used up all their stocks of food aid
The coalition is campaigning to end Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
Humanitarian aid and supplies have not entered the Gaza Strip since March 2, when Israel shut all crossings into Gaza.
Recently, the UN’s World Food Programme and UNRWA, the agency for Palestinian refugees, said they had used up all their stocks of food aid.
The UN has warned that the current situation ‘is likely the worst it has been’ due to the blockade.
Another coalition ship on a similar mission to Gaza in 2010 was stopped and boarded by Israeli troops, and nine activists died. Other ships have similarly been stopped and boarded, without loss of life.
