A ship named Conscience, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, was struck by explosions off the coast of Malta, leading to a fire but no casualties. The explosions, suspected to be from a drone attack, caused significant damage, including a breach in the hull and loss of power, but the crew remained safe thanks to a nearby tugboat that extinguished the fire. The coalition accused Israel of orchestrating the attack, though there was no definitive evidence to support this claim, and the Israeli military did not respond to requests for comment. The incident highlights ongoing tensions related to the blockade of Gaza, which restricts humanitarian aid and has led to past confrontations, such as the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition called for international condemnation of the attack, emphasizing that targeting human rights activists in international waters constitutes a war crime.

The ship, carrying 16 people, was en route to Gaza with humanitarian aid when it experienced explosions near Malta, raising suspicions of a drone strike, though the cause remains unconfirmed.

Despite the fire and damage, including a breached hull and a broken generator, the crew was unharmed after a tugboat assisted in extinguishing the fire following a mayday call.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organized the voyage, accused Israel of the drone attack, but lacked conclusive evidence, and experts reviewing the damage could not confirm a drone strike.

The incident occurred as the ship was set to pick up additional passengers, including activist Greta Thunberg, before heading to Gaza to challenge the blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt.

Israel's blockade of Gaza persists, preventing humanitarian aid from entering and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis, with past attempts to break the blockade leading to deadly confrontations.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition called on the international community to denounce the attack, arguing that targeting activists in international waters is a violation of international law.

The Israeli military, known for previously blocking humanitarian attempts to Gaza, did not comment on the incident, reflecting the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region.