Drones attacked aid boat bound for Gaza, say activists
The International Committee of the Red Cross warned on Friday that the humanitarian response in Gaza was on the "verge of total collapse" after two months of Israel blocking aid to the territory
Published: 05:05 PM,May 02,2025 | EDITED : 09:05 PM,May 02,2025
NICOSIA: A group of activists organising an aid boat for Gaza said it was attacked on Friday by drones in international waters off Malta as it headed towards the Palestinian territory. The Maltese government and Cypriot rescuers said that they had responded to a distress call from the vessel, while Malta said all crew members were safe and made no mention of an alleged attack.
The activists said they suspected Israel could be behind the incident and Cyprus's rescue agency said it had been informed by the island's foreign ministry of an Israeli drone strike. The Israeli military did not provide an immediate response when contacted.
'At 00:23 Maltese time (22:23 GMT on Thursday), the Conscience, a Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship came under direct attack in international waters,' the activist group said in a statement. 'Armed drones attacked the front of an unarmed civilian vessel twice, causing a fire and a substantial breach in the hull,' it added. '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.' Asked whether the group believed Israel was behind the attack, a spokesperson said they 'suspected' that was the case. 'While we can not confirm 100%, we suspect it's Israel,' Hay Sha Wiya said, calling the country 'the primary entity interested in keep us and any aid out of Gaza.'
Israel is known for conducting intelligence operations beyond its borders, including several during the Gaza war that it only acknowledged later. The activists said the strike appeared to target the boat's generator. Following the distress call, the Malta Vessel Traffic Services body dispatched a tugboat and offered support. 'The tug arrived on scene and began firefighting operations. By 01:28 hrs, the fire was reported under control,' the Maltese statement said.
Cyprus also dispatched a vessel following the distress call. 'The Larnaca Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) has been informed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus that a vessel possibly transporting humanitarian aid to Gaza came under missile attack by an Israeli Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) while sailing within the Search and Rescue (SAR) Region of Malta,' the Cypriot rescue body said. It said a Cypriot-owned vessel in the area 'participated in firefighting operations'. The activists were on what they called a 'mission to challenge Israel's illegal and deadly siege of Gaza and to deliver desperately needed, life-saving aid'.
Israel has since March 2 blocked all aid deliveries to Gaza and resumed intense military operations in the territory in mid-March, with a two-month ceasefire in Gaza war in tatters. The International Committee of the Red Cross warned on Friday that the humanitarian response in Gaza was on the 'verge of total collapse' after two months of Israel blocking aid to the territory.
Two months into Israel's full blockade on aid into Gaza, humanitarians described on Friday horrific scenes of starving, bloodied children and people fighting over water, with aid operations on the 'verge of total collapse'. The United Nations and the Red Cross sounded the alarm at the dire situation in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory, demanding international action. 'The humanitarian response in Gaza is on the verge of total collapse,' the International Committee of the Red Cross warned in a statement. 'Without immediate action, Gaza will descend further into chaos that humanitarian efforts will not be able to mitigate.'
Israel strictly controls all inflows of international aid vital for the 2.4 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. It halted aid deliveries to Gaza on March 2, days before the collapse of a ceasefire that had significantly reduced hostilities after 15 months of war. Since the start of the blockade, the United Nations has repeatedly warned of the humanitarian catastrophe on the ground, with famine again looming. The UN's World Food Programme (WFP) said a week ago that it had sent out its 'last remaining food stocks' to kitchens. — AFP
The activists said they suspected Israel could be behind the incident and Cyprus's rescue agency said it had been informed by the island's foreign ministry of an Israeli drone strike. The Israeli military did not provide an immediate response when contacted.
'At 00:23 Maltese time (22:23 GMT on Thursday), the Conscience, a Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship came under direct attack in international waters,' the activist group said in a statement. 'Armed drones attacked the front of an unarmed civilian vessel twice, causing a fire and a substantial breach in the hull,' it added. '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.' Asked whether the group believed Israel was behind the attack, a spokesperson said they 'suspected' that was the case. 'While we can not confirm 100%, we suspect it's Israel,' Hay Sha Wiya said, calling the country 'the primary entity interested in keep us and any aid out of Gaza.'
Israel is known for conducting intelligence operations beyond its borders, including several during the Gaza war that it only acknowledged later. The activists said the strike appeared to target the boat's generator. Following the distress call, the Malta Vessel Traffic Services body dispatched a tugboat and offered support. 'The tug arrived on scene and began firefighting operations. By 01:28 hrs, the fire was reported under control,' the Maltese statement said.
Cyprus also dispatched a vessel following the distress call. 'The Larnaca Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) has been informed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus that a vessel possibly transporting humanitarian aid to Gaza came under missile attack by an Israeli Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) while sailing within the Search and Rescue (SAR) Region of Malta,' the Cypriot rescue body said. It said a Cypriot-owned vessel in the area 'participated in firefighting operations'. The activists were on what they called a 'mission to challenge Israel's illegal and deadly siege of Gaza and to deliver desperately needed, life-saving aid'.
Israel has since March 2 blocked all aid deliveries to Gaza and resumed intense military operations in the territory in mid-March, with a two-month ceasefire in Gaza war in tatters. The International Committee of the Red Cross warned on Friday that the humanitarian response in Gaza was on the 'verge of total collapse' after two months of Israel blocking aid to the territory.
Two months into Israel's full blockade on aid into Gaza, humanitarians described on Friday horrific scenes of starving, bloodied children and people fighting over water, with aid operations on the 'verge of total collapse'. The United Nations and the Red Cross sounded the alarm at the dire situation in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory, demanding international action. 'The humanitarian response in Gaza is on the verge of total collapse,' the International Committee of the Red Cross warned in a statement. 'Without immediate action, Gaza will descend further into chaos that humanitarian efforts will not be able to mitigate.'
Israel strictly controls all inflows of international aid vital for the 2.4 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. It halted aid deliveries to Gaza on March 2, days before the collapse of a ceasefire that had significantly reduced hostilities after 15 months of war. Since the start of the blockade, the United Nations has repeatedly warned of the humanitarian catastrophe on the ground, with famine again looming. The UN's World Food Programme (WFP) said a week ago that it had sent out its 'last remaining food stocks' to kitchens. — AFP