A ship carrying international activists to Gaza was damaged by an aerial strike in international waters off the coast of Malta early Friday morning, according to its organizers. The incident prompted a distress call and firefighting response, though no injuries were reported.
“At 00:23 Maltese time, the Conscience, a Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship, came under direct attack in international waters,” the 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.”
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 Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an international NGO, blamed Israel for the strike. “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 coalition stated.
Israel has not publicly responded to the allegations. The Israeli military said it was “looking into” reports of the incident, according to the BBC.
The vessel issued an SOS call immediately after the attack. A nearby oil tanker recorded the distress communication, later shared with the BBC. The captain of the Conscience can be heard reporting “drone strikes and a fire onboard,” according to the broadcaster.
Maltese authorities said the vessel was located 17 nautical miles east of Malta and confirmed that a fire had broken out onboard. In a statement, the Maltese government reported that all 16 people aboard—12 crew and 4 civilians—were “confirmed safe.” A tugboat and an Armed Forces of Malta patrol vessel were dispatched.
“By 01:28 local time, the fire was reported to be under control,” the government said, adding that the passengers “refused to board the tug” and remained aboard the damaged ship, which was being monitored outside territorial waters.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition said the strike appeared to target the ship’s generator, disabling electrical systems and leaving the vessel at risk of sinking. Cypriot authorities later confirmed “significant damage” to the hull.
According to the coalition, the mission had been organized under a media blackout to avoid sabotage. The Conscience departed Bizerte, Tunisia, on Tuesday and was set to pick up additional passengers near Malta, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, before sailing to Gaza. “Volunteers from over 21 countries travelled to Malta to board the mission to Gaza, including prominent figures,” the coalition said.
The group also accused Malta of failing to fulfill its maritime obligations. However, the Maltese government rejected that claim. “The tug arrived on scene and began firefighting operations,” the official statement said. “By 02:13 a.m., all crew were confirmed safe.” The vessel remains offshore and is under continuous observation.
There is currently no independent verification of who carried out Friday’s drone strike. An unsourced post by Israeli journalist Yossi Yehoshua on X (formerly Twitter) suggested the ship may have been “Hamas-affiliated” and described the incident as a “sophisticated aerial attack.” No government has confirmed that claim.
