Gaza Freedom Flotilla activists claimed Friday that Israel attacked one of their vessels carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza near the coast of Malta in international waters. According to the organization, a drone fired a missile at the ship, creating a hole in its hull, though none of the 30 activists aboard were injured.
The Jerusalem authorities refused to comment on claims that Israel was behind the attack on the vessel, which the activists say caught fire following the strike.
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. pic.twitter.com/J6oEQafuOb
— Freedom Flotilla Coalition (@GazaFFlotilla) May 2, 2025
"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," the Freedom Flotilla Coalition posted on social media.
The organization told CNN that 30 people were aboard the ship carrying humanitarian aid when the alleged attack occurred just after midnight local time on Friday. "There is a hole in the vessel right now and the ship is sinking," Yasmin Akar, the coalition's press officer, told CNN by phone from Malta. Akar said the ship "sent SOS calls to surrounding countries, including Malta" and that a "small boat" was sent from southern Cyprus. She added that she was able to contact crew members after the SOS signal was sent.
It remains unclear at this stage what happened to the vessel, which the organization claims was attacked in the middle of the night, and whether the activists on board were rescued and transferred to safety. The organization released a video Friday morning calling for help for the ship. They claimed that authorities in Malta refused to send a vessel to assist the damaged ship and that a vessel that arrived from Cyprus was unable to help restore the ship's electrical system.
A video the coalition posted on its X account appears to show a burning fire on a ship, as well as smoke. The sound of two loud explosions can also be heard in a separate video.
