TEL AVIV: Drones attacked a vessel carrying aid to Gaza while it was in international waters off Malta on Friday, the group organising 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.
Israel has cut off Gaza from all imports, including food and medicine, since the beginning of March, leading to the worst humanitarian crisis in nearly 19 months of war.
Israel’s air force struck near Syria’s presidential palace early Friday after warning Syrian authorities not to march toward villages inhabited by members of the Druze minority sect in southern Syria.