Gaza Freedom Flotilla: Ship Has Issued SOS After Drone Attack Off Malta Coast

By Staff, Agencies

A Gaza Freedom Flotilla says one of its vessels is on fire and has issued an SOS, after what it said was a drone attack off the coast of Malta in international waters.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which is campaigning to end "Israel’s" blockade of Gaza, said 30 people were aboard its ship carrying humanitarian aid when the attack happened just after midnight local time Friday [6 p.m. ET Thursday].

“There is a hole in the vessel right now and the ship is sinking,” Yasemin Acar, the coalition’s press officer, told CNN by phone from Malta.

Acar said the ship had “sent out SOS calls to the surrounding countries, including Malta” and that a “small boat” from southern Cyprus had been sent. She added she had been able to contact crew members after the SOS signal was sent out.

Video the coalition posted on its X account appeared to show a fire burning on a ship, as well as smoke. The sound of two loud explosions can also be heard in a separate video clip.

“Our vessel is 17 kilometers off the shores of Malta right now in international waters, and they have been subjected to a drone attack twice,” said Acar, adding that the generators at the front of the vessel were the apparent target.

“This boat, however, is not providing electricity that is needed on the vessel right now,” she said, saying the coalition was not able to contact the burning vessel.

“We have 30 international human rights activists on that vessel at this very moment on a vessel that is sinking,” said Acar.

Marine traffic websites list the ship Conscience as flying under a Palau flag, and show it was located off the eastern coast of Malta on Friday morning.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition describes itself on its website as an international network of pro-Palestinian activists working to end "Israel’s" blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave by taking direct, non-violent action.