Gaza Aid Ship Catches Fire After Alleged Israeli Drone Attack Near Malta

An aid ship en route to Gaza reportedly caught fire early Friday following an alleged drone attack in international waters near Malta, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), the group organizing the mission. The group believes Israel was behind the strike, though no evidence has been publicly provided, and Israeli officials have declined to comment.

The vessel, named The Conscience, was carrying humanitarian supplies and activists when it caught fire shortly after midnight local time. The ship issued a distress signal, with the FFC reporting a hole in the hull and fears of it sinking. Malta’s government confirmed the fire and said it had been extinguished. No injuries were reported.

“There is a hole in the vessel right now and the ship is sinking,” FFC press officer Yasemin Acar told CNN.

A tugboat was dispatched to assist, but all crew members reportedly refused to board it, opting instead to continue fighting the fire on board.

Malta reported 16 people were aboard — 12 crew and 4 civilians — though FFC initially claimed 30 were on the ship. The vessel had not yet reached Malta, where more activists, including climate activist Greta Thunberg and retired U.S. Army Col. Mary Ann Wright, were scheduled to join before the voyage to Gaza.

FFC accused Israel of targeting the vessel, saying it was attacked twice by drones. Videos shared by the group show flames and smoke, along with the sound of explosions. CNN could not independently verify the footage.

Activist Mary Ann Wright expressed disbelief at the incident, telling CNN:
“Who would send drones to bomb a ship that is anchoring off Malta? Anyone could have been on that boat.”

FFC called for international accountability, urging governments to summon Israeli diplomats and investigate what it calls violations of international law.

Speaking to Reuters from Malta, Thunberg condemned the blockade on Gaza and emphasized the mission’s goal:
“For two months now, not a single bottle of water has entered Gaza. It’s a systematic starvation of 2 million people,” she said.

She added that the ship remains at anchor because moving it could cause it to take on water and sink.

The incident comes amid a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Israel imposed a full blockade on the region in March, cutting off food, medicine, and other aid to over 2 million residents. The World Food Programme recently warned its warehouses are empty, and remaining food in local markets is unaffordable for most.

Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, urged authorities to protect the vessel and investigate the incident.

In 2010, a similar flotilla headed to Gaza was raided by Israeli forces in international waters, resulting in nine deaths and international condemnation. The FFC says it kept this latest mission under media blackout to avoid sabotage.

While the Israeli military remains silent, flight-tracking data showed an Israeli Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft flying near Malta hours before the alleged attack, though it never landed on the island. The plane later returned to Israel.

Former U.S. Army explosives expert Trevor Ball told CNN that photos of the damaged ship appear consistent with two small blast munitions.

Despite the incident, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition vows to continue its mission:
“What is certain is that we human rights activists will continue to do everything in our power to do our part,” said Thunberg.