02-05-2025
Israel strike targets Gaza-Bound freedom flotilla near Malta
ALBAWABA - According to sources cited by Al Jazeera, an Israeli drone attack targeted one of the Freedom Flotilla ships sailing toward Gaza, resulting in serious damage and a fire. The incident happened in international seas close to Malta late on Wednesday night.
Around thirty international human rights activists were on board the ship, "Al-Dameer," which was sailing from Tunisia. A flotilla spokeswoman said that the ship was struck by two drone attacks, one of which damaged its power generator, resulting in a fire in the bow and a breach in the hull.
Thankfully, organizers verified that there were no reported injuries among the passengers.
Later, the Maltese authorities said that the fire had been contained and verified that all 16 people on board were safe. However, video that flotilla organizers posted online showed flames ripping across a portion of the ship. A distress call and a video verifying the incident were leaked by one activist.
The flotilla's media coordinator told CNN that the ship had a big hole in it and was sinking rapidly when assistance got there.
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. — Freedom Flotilla Coalition (@GazaFFlotilla) May 2, 2025
Serious Alerts and Charges
The leader of the International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza, Zaher Al-Birawi, told Al Jazeera Net that preliminary evidence suggests the assailant was an Israeli drone. He blamed Israel for the strike and warned that if rescue measures were not launched right enough, the ship may sink.
Noting that the incident took place inside Malta's maritime authority, he further urged the Maltese authorities to act immediately.
Authorities in southern Cyprus were the only ones to react to the activists' repeated distress calls by sending a rescue vessel.
For technical and insurance concerns, the "Al-Dameer" had been moored in international seas. According to Al Jazeera, the ship was carrying tons of humanitarian goods meant for the beleaguered Gaza Strip, and more activists from Malta were expected to join the crew.
Protests over Malta's inability to let the ship to port or promptly react to emergency calls are planned, according to the organizers.
Similar attempts to bring relief ships to Gaza from nations like Turkey and Libya were coordinated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition last year.
Israel has previously used force against humanitarian flotillas and has maintained a tight naval blockade of Gaza for a long time. Ten Turkish protestors were killed when Israeli commandos attacked the Mavi Marmara, another Freedom Flotilla ship, in international seas in 2010.
