Gaza ‘freedom’ ship sinking off Malta after alleged drone attack

A drone has struck a vessel carrying aid to Gaza off the coast of Malta, campaign group Freedom Flotilla Coalition has said.

The group’s ship was trying to get food and supplies to people in Gaza before drones reportedly hit it.

Malta’s Government  said 12 crew members and four civilians were on board, and no casualties were reported.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an international non-governmental group, published video footage showing a fire on one of its ships, named the Conscience, has accused Israel of being responsible.

“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,” it said.

The Israeli foreign ministry has not commented on the incident but the country’s military said it was investigating reports of the attack.

In a social media post, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said its vessel had been targeted twice by the drone attack, resulting in a fire and a breach in the hull.

Video footage shot in the dark captured lights in the sky in front of the ship and the sound of explosions.

The Maltese Government said maritime authorities had received a mayday call from a vessel reporting a fire shortly after midnight local time.

Charlie Andreasson, who has been involved in the Freedom Flotilla for more than a decade, told The Associated Press that he had spoken to people on board who said there were two explosions and a fire broke out.

While the people on board were safe, he said there was a risk that the boat could sink as the generator was hit and the boat was immobile.

Codepink, a grassroots human rights organisation, also said the vessel was sinking but confirmed their team members were safe.

It said a nearby tug headed to the scene and launched firefighting operations, and a Maltese patrol vessel was dispatched. After several hours, the vessel and their crew were secure, it said, adding that crew had refused to board the tug.

For two months, Israel has blocked any humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, causing the territory to suffer what is believed to be the worst humanitarian crisis in nearly 19 months of war.

On Thursday, UN emergency relief coordinator Tom Fletcher condemned Israel’s actions as a “cruel collective punishment” of the Palestinian population.

“International law is unequivocal: As the occupying power, Israel must allow humanitarian support in,” Fletcher said.

“Aid, and the civilian lives it saves, should never be a bargaining chip,” he added. “Blocking aid kills.”