Israeli drones hit ‘Freedom Flotilla’ Gaza aid ship in international waters

A ship carrying aid to Gaza in a bid to break Israel’s blockade has been hit by drones in international waters off Malta, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), the group that organised the mission.

The FFC said in a statement on Friday that the vessel, now located 14 nautical miles (25km) from Malta, was the target of two drone strikes while on the final preparatory stages before sailing to Gaza. The ship had been seeking to deliver aid to the besieged enclave, where aid groups warn people are struggling to survive following a two-month total blockade by Israel.

“Armed drones attacked the front of an unarmed civilian vessel twice, causing a fire and a substantial breach in the hull,” the group said.

The statement did not directly accuse Israel of carrying out the attack.

However, it did demand that “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 said “the Maltese government has not yet responded to the SOS signal from this civilian humanitarian vessel.”

The coalition called on Malta to fulfill its “obligation to act and ensure the safety of a civilian ship in distress within its proximity” as required by international maritime law.

The flotilla was reportedly en route to Gaza carrying humanitarian aid in a bid to challenge the Israeli blockade. The source of the drone strike has not been confirmed.