Freedom Flotilla crew stranded off Malta coast after 'Israeli strike'
Organisers of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition have blamed Israel for the alleged attack and said that 12 people have been left on board the vessel while six Turkish citizens were taken to Turkey after the alleged attack on Friday. No lives were lost but four sailors were left with minor burns and cuts.
The group, which is taking aid shipments to Gaza, say they are in negotiations with the Maltese authorities, saying their demands to carry out their own investigation on the Conscience were denied.
Yasemin Acar, a member of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition's steering committee, told The National that the vessel is floating in the Mediterranean Sea 17 miles off the coast of Malta and that crew members had supplies to keep them fed and hydrated.
'They have enough because the vessel carries humanitarian aid,' she said. 'Food and water is of course on the vessel.'
The 'precise attack' which came 'probably from Israel' happened shortly after midnight on May 2, according to Acar, and flight tracking data analysed by CNN has found that an Israeli Air Force cargo plane flew over Malta for 'several hours' before the time the ship was allegedly bombed.
Asked why she believed Israel was responsible, Acar said: 'Who else would attack a humanitarian vessel carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza? Who else could it be?'
READ MORE: Palestinians in Gaza speak out as Israel starves them
Acar said Malta had refused requests for members of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition to oversee an investigation of their vessel, but that a 'survey' by the Maltese authorities was carried out on Monday.
She said: 'Our demand was that we have our own investigators with them to oversee the whole process and know what's being done but that wasn't allowed. None of our demands were heard or accepted.
'Right now, we're trying to get our vessel to the Malta shore, so they can dock here so the repairs can be done here.'
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 group has not been in touch with the crew members who were 'rushed' away from the scene and taken to Turkey, Acar said.
'We have not been in touch with them, we could not be in touch with them, we were not allowed on the ship,' she added.
READ MORE: Palestinian ambassador demands UK 'enforces' international law in Gaza
'Yesterday, unfortunately, we were not told where they were brought, we were only told that they were being picked up. They were immediately put in a van and rushed to the airport. We do not know why it was so difficult or they didn't want us to get in touch.'
In a statement issued on Friday, the Maltese government said that firefighters put out the fire on the boat around an hour after receiving a mayday call.
The statement added: 'The ship remains outside territorial waters and being monitored by the competent authorities.'
The Maltese government was approached for comment.
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