‘Israel bombs pro-Palestine aid ship' off Malta coast
A pro-Palestinian activist ship bound for Gaza has been bombed by Israel in the Mediterranean, its organisers have claimed.
The alleged attack took place on a vessel forming part of the 'Freedom Flotilla Coalition', which campaigns against Israel's blockade of the Strip, shortly after midnight in international waters off Malta.
Footage has emerged appearing to show two explosions on a ship named Conscience, causing a fire which the crew struggled to contain.
The coalition blamed the attack on 'armed drones', which it said continued to circle the flotilla following the strikes.
It told CNN that climate activist Greta Thunberg and retired US army colonel Mary Ann Wright were among those who were expected to board the vessel in Malta, but were not on board at the time of the fire.
Israel has so far not commented on the allegation.
Israel cut off all aid supplies to Gaza two months ag o as part of a plan to pressure Hamas to release the last hostages.
But Gaza has been under an Israeli maritime blockade for many years as part of the strategy to counter Hamas, which has controlled the enclave since 2007.
In 2010, nine activists died after Israeli forces boarded a different coalition ship on a similar mission to Gaza.
The Maltese government said maritime authorities had received a mayday call from a vessel reporting a fire shortly after midnight local time.
The vessel was outside territorial waters and had 12 crew members and four civilians on board, the government said.
It said a nearby tug headed to the scene and launched firefighting operations and a Maltese patrol vessel was dispatched.
After several hours, the vessel and its crew were secure, it said, adding that crew had refused to board the tug.
In an earlier social media post on the incident, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition had said the vessel was taking on water with 30 international human rights activists on board 16 miles off Malta.
The coalition said it had been organising a non-violent action under a media blackout in order to avoid any potential sabotage.
'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 group said.
It added: 'Volunteers from over 21 countries travelled to Malta to board the mission to Gaza, including prominent figures.'
'On the morning of their scheduled departure, the vessel was attacked. Armed drones attacked the front of an unarmed civilian vessel twice, causing a fire and a substantial breach in the hull.
'The last communication in the early morning of the 2nd of May indicated the drones are still circling the ship.'
If confirmed, a deliberate attack on the convoy could amount to a breach of international law.
Following the 2010 incident, a UN fact-finding mission found that 'a series of violations of international law, including international humanitarian and human rights law' had been committed by Israel.
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