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The Herald Scotland
02-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Drones strike ship carrying aid to Gaza, organisers say
A nearby tugboat responded to a distress call from the Conscience, which was carrying 12 crew members and four civilians, Malta's government said, adding that those aboard refused to leave the ship. The group was safe and no injuries were reported, it said. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition accused Israel of attacking its ship. The group did not provide evidence for that claim or to show that the fire was caused by drones, but in a video it shared an explosion could be heard. Another video showed a fire blazing. Condemnations and call for investigation from experts following the drone attack on the #FreedomFlotillahttps:// — Freedom Flotilla Coalition (@GazaFFlotilla) May 2, 2025 The Israeli army did not respond to a request for comment. Israel has cut off Gaza from all imports, including food and medicine, since the beginning of March, leading to what is believed to be the worst humanitarian crisis in nearly 19 months of war with Hamas. Israel says the blockade is an attempt to pressure the Palestinian militant group to release hostages it took during the October 7, 2023, attack that triggered the conflict. Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel that day, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive. In response, Israel launched an offensive that has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's health ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians. The Conscience ship after being struck by a drone (Government of Cyprus via AP) Israel's bombardment and ground operations have destroyed vast areas of the territory and left most of its population homeless. When an aid flotilla attempted to break a blockade of Gaza in 2010, Israeli forces stormed a Turkish ship, the Mavi Marmara, killing nine people on board. On Friday, the Conscience was hit about 16 miles from Malta, according to the Freedom Flotilla. Charlie Andreasson, who has been involved with the group for more than a decade, told The Associated Press that he had spoken to people on board who said there were two explosions and that a fire broke out. Photos provided by the Cypriot authorities showed the ship with damage to its side. People on board the vessel were not immediately reachable for comment. Earlier the group said the strike appeared to have targeted the ship's generator, causing a 'substantial breach in the hull' and leaving it without power. It said that put the vessel at risk of sinking. 📍 Israel and the occupied territories | Without an immediate resumption of aid deliveries, we won't have access to the food, medicines, and life-saving supplies needed to sustain many of its programmes in Gaza. Read more in our news release 👉🏽 — ICRC (@ICRC) May 2, 2025 According to the ship-monitoring website Marine Traffic, the Conscience left the Tunisian port of Bizerte on Tuesday and arrived on Thursday in the area where it reported being attacked. The organisers said the ship was hit on Friday, just after midnight. Volunteers who had travelled to Malta were meant to board the ship to go to Gaza, the group said. Mr Andreasson said climate activist Greta Thunberg was supposed to have participated. The organisation said Ms Thunberg did not board and was safe. About two dozen volunteers, including Ms Thunberg, were taking smaller boats to the Conscience to assess the damage after the attack, said Medea Benjamin, co-founder of Codepink, a grassroots peace and social justice movement. Ms Benjamin said the ship's crew are from Turkey and Azerbaijan. 'They still want to head toward Gaza, but I don't know what shape the ship is in,' she said. The attack happened as aid groups have warned that the humanitarian response in Gaza is on the verge of collapse. The International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday it will not have access to food, medicine and life-saving supplies needed for many of its Gaza programmes if aid deliveries do not resume immediately. Programmes at risk include 'common kitchens' that often give residents the only meal they receive each day and could be forced to halt operations in a few weeks, the ICRC said. 'Aid must be allowed to enter Gaza. Hostages must be released. Civilians must be protected,' it said. 'Without immediate action, Gaza will descend further into chaos that humanitarian efforts will not be able to mitigate.'
BreakingNews.ie
02-05-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Drones strike ship carrying aid to Gaza, organisers say
Drones attacked a vessel carrying aid to Gaza on Friday in international waters off Malta, the group organising the shipment said. A fire broke out but was brought under control, according to authorities. Advertisement A nearby tugboat responded to a distress call from the Conscience, which was carrying 12 crew members and four civilians, Malta's government said, adding that those aboard refused to leave the ship. The group was safe and no injuries were reported, it said. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition accused Israel of attacking its ship. The group did not provide evidence for that claim or to show that the fire was caused by drones, but in a video it shared an explosion could be heard. Another video showed a fire blazing. Condemnations and call for investigation from experts following the drone attack on the #FreedomFlotilla — Freedom Flotilla Coalition (@GazaFFlotilla) May 2, 2025 The Israeli army did not respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Israel has cut off Gaza from all imports, including food and medicine, since the beginning of March, leading to what is believed to be the worst humanitarian crisis in nearly 19 months of war with Hamas. Israel says the blockade is an attempt to pressure the Palestinian militant group to release hostages it took during the October 7, 2023, attack that triggered the conflict. Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel that day, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive. In response, Israel launched an offensive that has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's health ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians. Advertisement The Conscience ship after being struck by a drone (Government of Cyprus via AP) Israel's bombardment and ground operations have destroyed vast areas of the territory and left most of its population homeless. When an aid flotilla attempted to break a blockade of Gaza in 2010, Israeli forces stormed a Turkish ship, the Mavi Marmara, killing nine people on board. On Friday, the Conscience was hit about 16 miles from Malta, according to the Freedom Flotilla. Charlie Andreasson, who has been involved with the group for more than a decade, told The Associated Press that he had spoken to people on board who said there were two explosions and that a fire broke out. Advertisement Photos provided by the Cypriot authorities showed the ship with damage to its side. People on board the vessel were not immediately reachable for comment. Earlier the group said the strike appeared to have targeted the ship's generator, causing a 'substantial breach in the hull' and leaving it without power. It said that put the vessel at risk of sinking. 📍 Israel and the occupied territories | Without an immediate resumption of aid deliveries, we won't have access to the food, medicines, and life-saving supplies needed to sustain many of its programmes in Gaza. Read more in our news release 👉🏽 — ICRC (@ICRC) May 2, 2025 According to the ship-monitoring website Marine Traffic, the Conscience left the Tunisian port of Bizerte on Tuesday and arrived on Thursday in the area where it reported being attacked. The organisers said the ship was hit on Friday, just after midnight. Volunteers who had travelled to Malta were meant to board the ship to go to Gaza, the group said. Advertisement Mr Andreasson said climate activist Greta Thunberg was supposed to have participated. The organisation said Ms Thunberg did not board and was safe. About two dozen volunteers, including Ms Thunberg, were taking smaller boats to the Conscience to assess the damage after the attack, said Medea Benjamin, co-founder of Codepink, a grassroots peace and social justice movement. Ms Benjamin said the ship's crew are from Turkey and Azerbaijan. 'They still want to head toward Gaza, but I don't know what shape the ship is in,' she said. The attack happened as aid groups have warned that the humanitarian response in Gaza is on the verge of collapse. The International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday it will not have access to food, medicine and life-saving supplies needed for many of its Gaza programmes if aid deliveries do not resume immediately. Programmes at risk include 'common kitchens' that often give residents the only meal they receive each day and could be forced to halt operations in a few weeks, the ICRC said. 'Aid must be allowed to enter Gaza. Hostages must be released. Civilians must be protected,' it said. 'Without immediate action, Gaza will descend further into chaos that humanitarian efforts will not be able to mitigate.'
Euronews
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Drone strike hits 'Freedom Flotilla' Gaza aid ship off Malta, organisers blame Israel
ADVERTISEMENT A vessel set to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza has been struck by drones in international waters near Malta, according to the group behind the mission. A fire broke out following the attack but was later brought under control, authorities confirmed. The ship, named Conscience, was carrying 12 crew members and four civilians when the incident occurred approximately 26 kilometres off the Maltese coast. Malta's government said a nearby tugboat responded to the distress call, but those on board chose not to abandon the ship. No injuries were reported and all on board were confirmed safe. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organised the shipment, accused Israel of carrying out the attack. While it offered no direct evidence linking Israel to the incident, it released a video where an explosion can be heard and another showing flames engulfing part of the vessel. The Israeli military has not responded to requests for comment. The Conscience aid vessel after a drone strike moored off the coast of Malta, 2 May, 2025 AP/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved. The attack comes amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has been under a full blockade since March, with Israel halting all imports, including food and medicine. Israel says the blockade is intended to pressure Hamas to release the hostages it is still holding since its 7 October 2023 incursion into southern Israel. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition said the strike on the Conscience appeared to target its generator, creating a significant breach in the hull and knocking out the ship's power, leaving it at risk of sinking. Charlie Andreasson, a long-time member of the group, told the Associated Press that he had spoken with those on board, who reported hearing two explosions before the fire broke out. Photos released by Cypriot authorities showed visible damage to the vessel's side. Marine Traffic, a ship-tracking platform, showed the Conscience had departed the Tunisian port of Bizerte on Tuesday and entered the area where the attack occurred by Thursday morning. Organisers stated the ship was hit shortly after midnight on Friday. The incident echoes the deadly 2010 raid on the Turkish vessel Mavi Marmara, part of an earlier Gaza-bound aid flotilla, in which Israeli forces killed nine activists after storming the ship. Humanitarian crisis Meanwhile, aid agencies have sounded the alarm over the rapidly deteriorating situation in Gaza. The International Committee of the Red Cross warned on Friday that its humanitarian operations could collapse without the immediate resumption of aid deliveries. Programmes at risk include communal kitchens providing the only meal of the day for many residents. ADVERTISEMENT "Aid must be allowed to enter Gaza. Hostages must be released. Civilians must be protected," the ICRC said. Palestinians receive bags of flour and other humanitarian aid distributed by UNRWA in Jabaliya, 1 April, 2025 AP Photo "Without immediate action, Gaza will descend further into chaos that humanitarian efforts will not be able to mitigate," the group added. The war began when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on 7 October 2023, killing around 1,200 people, most of them civilians. Hamas took 251 people as hostages, and is currently holding 59, of whom 24 are believed to be alive. ADVERTISEMENT A subsequent Israeli offensive has to date killed 52,400 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry whose figures do not distinguish between fighters and civilians. The Israeli military says 850 of its soldiers have died since the start of the war.
Indian Express
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Drones hit Gaza aid ship ‘Freedom Flotilla Coalition', Israel role suspected
A vessel carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza caught fire off the coast of Malta on Friday after what authorities described as a drone attack, reigniting concerns about the safety of sea-based aid missions amid the deepening crisis in the besieged Palestinian territory. According to a report by Associated Press, the vessel, Conscience, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and carrying 12 crew and four civilians, was about 16 miles from Malta when the incident occurred. Malta's government said a nearby tugboat responded to the distress call and confirmed that all aboard were safe and had refused evacuation. No injuries were reported. As per AP report, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition directly accused Israel of targeting the ship, though it provided no evidence to support the claim. It released videos showing a blaze onboard and what it described as sounds of explosions. The Israeli military did not comment on the allegation. Photos released by Cypriot authorities showed damage to the ship's hull, while the group said the strike appeared to have targeted the generator, causing a substantial breach and leaving the vessel without power. The fire was later brought under control. This photo provided by the Goverment of Cyprus and taken from the EDT ship AEOLUS shows The Conscience, after a drone struck the vessel carrying aid to Gaza off the coast of Malta, Friday, May 2, 2025. (Government of Cyprus via AP) Charlie Andreasson, a longtime member of the Flotilla group, told the Associated Press that he had spoken to people onboard who confirmed hearing two explosions before the fire broke out. This latest attack comes amid a total Israeli blockade of Gaza since March, halting even food and medicine from entering. Israel has said the move is aimed at increasing pressure on Hamas to release hostages taken during its October 7 assault on southern Israel, which killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 abducted. As of now, 59 hostages are officially in Gaza, with 24 believed to be alive. Israel's retaliatory campaign has devastated Gaza. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, over 52,000 Palestinians—mainly women and children—have been killed, though the ministry does not distinguish between fighters and civilians. The UN and aid organisations warn that Gaza's humanitarian system is on the brink of collapse. The International Committee of the Red Cross warned on Friday that many of its Gaza programmes, including community kitchens that serve as the sole meal source for thousands, are at risk of shutting down without immediate aid access. 'Aid must be allowed to enter Gaza. Hostages must be released. Civilians must be protected,' the ICRC said in a statement, as quoted by AP. 'Without immediate action, Gaza will descend further into chaos that humanitarian efforts will not be able to mitigate.'
Chicago Tribune
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Drones strike ship carrying aid to Gaza, organizers say
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Drones attacked a vessel carrying aid to Gaza while it was in international waters off Malta on Friday, the group organizing the shipment said. A fire broke out but was brought under control, according to authorities. A nearby tugboat responded to a distress call from the Conscience, which was carrying 12 crew members and four civilians, Malta's government said, adding that those aboard refused to leave their ship. The group was safe and no injuries were reported, it said. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition accused Israel of attacking its ship. It did not provide evidence of that or that the fire was caused by drones, but in a video it shared an explosion can be heard. Another video showed a fire blazing. The Israeli army didn't respond to a request for comment. Israel has cut off Gaza from all imports, including food and medicine, since the beginning of March, leading to what is believed to be the worst humanitarian crisis in nearly 19 months of war with Hamas. Israel says it is an attempt to pressure the militant group to release hostages it took during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the conflict. Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel that day, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive. In response, Israel launched an offensive that has killed over 52,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were fighters or civilians. Israel's bombardment and ground operations have destroyed vast areas of the territory and left most of its population homeless. When an aid flotilla attempted to break a blockade of Gaza in 2010, Israeli forces stormed a Turkish ship, Mavi Marmara, killing nine people on board. On Friday, the Conscience was hit about 16 miles from Malta, according to the Freedom Flotilla. Charlie Andreasson, who has been involved with the group for more than a decade, told The Associated Press that he had spoken to people on board who said there were two explosions and a fire broke out. Photos provided by the Cypriot authorities showed the ship with damage to its side. People on board the ship were not immediately reachable for comment. Earlier the group said the strike appeared to have targeted the ship's generator, causing a 'substantial breach in the hull' and leaving it without power. It said that put the vessel at risk of sinking. The incident comes as aid groups have warned that the humanitarian response in Gaza is on the verge of collapse. The International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday it will not have access to food, medicine, and life-saving supplies needed for many of its Gaza programs if aid deliveries don't resume immediately. Programs at risk include 'common kitchens' that often give residents the only meal they receive each day and could be forced to halt operations in a few weeks, the ICRC said. 'Aid must be allowed to enter Gaza. Hostages must be released. Civilians must be protected,' it said. 'Without immediate action, Gaza will descend further into chaos that humanitarian efforts will not be able to mitigate.'
