Drone strike hits Gaza aid ship, echoes 2010 Flotilla incident

Freedom Flotilla vessel hit in international waters; activists blame Israel or allies for targeted drone strike as Malta confirms rescue operation

VALLETTA, MALTA (MNTV) — A humanitarian ship bound for Gaza came under a suspected drone strike in international waters off the coast of Malta, in what rights advocates are calling a chilling echo of the deadly 2010 Gaza flotilla raid.

The vessel, named Conscience, was carrying 16 to 30 pro-Palestinian activists—including Turkish and Azeri nationals—on a mission organised by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) to break Israel’s blockade on the besieged Gaza Strip.

According to the coalition’s press release, the ship was struck twice on Thursday night, setting the front of the vessel ablaze and breaching the hull, leaving it at high risk of sinking.

The strike prompted the ship’s crew to issue a distress call. Malta’s public broadcaster TVM, citing a government statement, reported that a tugboat equipped with firefighting capabilities was dispatched to the scene.

A Maltese Armed Forces patrol boat also responded to the emergency, confirming that all on board were safe, though they refused evacuation.

By early Friday morning, authorities confirmed the fire had been contained and that the situation was “under control” by 3:45 a.m. local time. The vessel remains in international waters, under surveillance by Maltese authorities.

Though there were no casualties, the incident has drawn swift condemnation from human rights advocates.

Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine, said she received a distress call from those onboard and urged maritime authorities to investigate and offer necessary support. “I trust the competent authorities will also ascertain the facts and intervene appropriately,” she posted on X.

Communication with the ship was lost during the night. According to FFC spokesperson Jenes, activists were “hiding in the rooms of the ship because they were afraid of the drones.” She added, “We lost contact with them.”

Echoes of 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla Raid

The drone strike has reignited global memories of the infamous 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla raid. On 31 May 2010, Israeli commandos boarded a civilian aid convoy in international waters as it attempted to reach Gaza.

The flotilla, organised by the Free Gaza Movement and the Turkish humanitarian organisation İHH, carried hundreds of activists and humanitarian supplies. The raid turned deadly when Israeli forces stormed the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, killing nine activists and injuring dozens.

The assault triggered international outrage, severely damaged Israel–Turkey relations, and prompted Israel to ease parts of its blockade on Gaza.

Much like that earlier mission, the current Freedom Flotilla campaign seeks to deliver aid and draw international attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Aid groups have warned of a looming famine and widespread medical shortages after Israel halted humanitarian deliveries two months ago amid its ongoing war on Hamas.

“This attack is an extension of the genocide that is happening in Gaza and cannot pass unpunished,” said Jenes, urging the global community to hold those responsible accountable.

While no group has claimed responsibility for the drone strike, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition has suggested Israel or one of its allies may be behind the attack—though no evidence has yet been publicly presented.

The Conscience was reportedly 14 nautical miles (approximately 25 km) from Malta at the time of the strike, well within international waters.

The activists on board had planned to reach Gaza with vital humanitarian supplies aboard a repurposed fishing trawler, in symbolic defiance of Israel’s years-long blockade.

The blockade, which has been in place since 2007, severely restricts movement of goods and people into and out of Gaza. Israel says the measure is necessary to prevent arms smuggling to Hamas, but human rights groups say it amounts to collective punishment of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.

Founded by an international alliance of peace and civil society groups, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition had organised this latest voyage to raise awareness of what they call the “total collapse” of humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza. The ship was expected to dock at Gaza’s Mediterranean coast in the coming days—if it had not been attacked.

As investigations begin, pressure is mounting on Malta, the European Union, and international maritime agencies to determine who was responsible and what action, if any, will follow.

The fate of the Conscience, and of the Freedom Flotilla’s mission, now hangs in the balance. Meanwhile, the world once again watches the Mediterranean Sea, where a small civilian ship has become the centre of a growing diplomatic storm.