Gaza Aid Flotilla Attacked by Drones; Organizers Blame Israel

Drone Attack on Gaza Aid Ship

• 🎯 A ship carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza, the "Conscience," was bombed by two drones in international waters near Malta.
• 💥 The attack, which occurred just after midnight, set the ship on fire, caused a substantial breach in its hull, and cut off communication.
• 🚢 The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the organizer, is blaming Israel for the attack.

International Response and Activist Perspectives

• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 The Maltese government confirmed 12 crew members and 4 civilians were safe, with a nearby tug assisting in extinguishing the flames.
• 🗣️ Retired US Colonel Ann Wright, a former diplomat and flotilla organizer, stated there is a history of violence directed toward flotillas from Israel.
• 🌍 Activists from 22 nations, including Greta Thunberg, were preparing to board the ship to head to Gaza and draw international attention to the crisis.

Historical Context and Ongoing Mission

• ⚓ The Freedom Flotilla Coalition has been challenging Israel's naval blockade of Gaza since 2008.
• 💔 Wright recalled the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident, where the Israeli navy attacked a flotilla, resulting in 10 deaths and 50 wounded.
• ✊ The current flotilla challenges not only the blockade but also what organizers describe as the Israeli genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza and the West Bank, with the US being complicit.

Call for Action and Future Intentions

• 🚫 For two months, no water has entered Gaza, contributing to a systematic starvation of its population.
• ⚖️ Activists emphasize a moral responsibility to act against the oppression and demand accountability for war crimes and government complicity.
• 🚀 Despite the attack, human rights activists vow to continue their efforts to demand a free Palestine and the opening of a humanitarian corridor.