A ship on an unauthorised mission to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza has reportedly been hit by a drone strike off the coast of Malta.
The civilian vessel, which was carrying aid parcels and pro-Palestine activists, was attempting to breach the sea blockade against the Strip when it was set ablaze.
Those in board claimed that the damage was the result of a drone strike as it passed through international waters.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organised the mission, declared: “At 00:23 Maltese time, a Freedom Flotilla 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 organisation said a distress signal had been sent out, claiming that it was yet to receive a response from Malta.
This was later disputed by Maltese officials, who said the country quickly dispatched rescue teams and fire crews.
A government spokesperson said that all 12 crew members had been “confirmed safe” and that a nearby tugboat had been directed to help the flotilla while official teams arrived.
They added: “The tug arrived on the scene and began firefighting operations.
"An Armed Forces of Malta patrol vessel was also dispatched to provide further assistance.
"All crew were confirmed safe but refused to board the tug… The ship remains outside territorial waters and is being monitored by the competent authorities.”
The organisers of the mission have alleged that Israel is behind the strike, but neither the presence of a drone in the area nor the source of any that was there has been confirmed. The IDF is yet to publicly comment on the claims.
Gaza has been under at least some level of blockade since the early 1990s, with its intensity varying over time.
The restrictions were partially relaxed after the IDF disengaged from the Strip in 2005 but have been largely reimposed following the October 7, 2023 terror attacks.
Israel maintains that the blockade, which covers land, sea and air routes, is necessary to prevent the smuggling of terrorists and weapons in and out of the enclave.
In 2010 another “freedom flotilla” mission, organised by the Free Gaza Movement, saw six ships raided by IDF commandos in the Mediterranean after crews refused orders to redirect to the Port of Ashdod.
Ten activists were killed and the incident lead to a rapid decline in Israeli-Turkish relations. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu subsequently apologised for the raid to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
