Emergency Press Briefing on Drone Attack Against Freedom Flotilla’s Ship Conscience
Date: 4, May, 2025
Time: 10:00 (New York), 16:00 (Malta), 17:00 (Palestine)
To register for this media conference, please e-mail us at [email protected].
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s Ship Conscience Blocked After Drone Attack; Maltese Authorities Impeding Access
May 4, 2025 — On Saturday, a delegation of Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) volunteers from 13 countries attempted to reach the ship Conscience to provide support to the crew and volunteers onboard. Their boats were intercepted by the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) who not only failed to provide aid to the bombed and damaged Conscience, they forced the delegation to turn back to Malta and go through immigration and customs under threat of arrest. This is the second day in a row where Maltese authorities have blocked FFC access to its ship, crew and participants.
The humanitarian ship Conscience has been blocked in international waters since it was attacked by two drones in the early morning of May 2, 2025. The vessel, crew and volunteers aboard face mounting threats and are being denied critical assistance. After putting out the fires on board and tending the injured, the captain cautiously began steering towards Maltese territorial waters in early hours of May 2, informing Maltese authorities of the crew’s fear of renewed aggression. Despite urgent SOS distress calls and direct communication from the Conscience to Maltese authorities, Malta blocked the ship’s passage and continues to deny entry into its waters or authorization to bring the bombed ship into port.
Four individuals aboard the Conscience sustained minor injuries from the May 2 attack on the ship, including burns and cuts. Maltese authorities have not given any reason for refusing to allow the ship to dock in its ports nor for preventing volunteers from delivering support.
The international community and humanitarian organizations must demand that Maltese authorities permit the Conscience immediate safe passage into Maltese waters, and provide all needed assistance as well as protection for the ship and all those on board. Under international law and reflected in recent International Court of Justice orders, states must not obstruct humanitarian aid delivery and should facilitate relief efforts for civilians in Gaza where possible.
Join us for a media update on the status of the Conscience as well as on our efforts to continue the Freedom Flotilla’s mission to break the siege of Gaza.
MAY 4, 2025 at 1600 CEST (Malta). To register for this media conference, please e-mail us at [email protected].
BACKGROUND:
In the early morning hours of May 2, 2025, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s ship Conscience was struck twice by drones in international waters off the coast of Malta by drone fire. The first bombing occurred at 00:21 CEST, with a second explosion just 2.5 minutes later. Both hits targeted the front of the ship where the emergency generators and life support systems are located.
The unprovoked attack caused serious structural damage, disabled the vessel’s power, and left the hull leaking. A fire raged on board, and four civilians were injured. The ship’s communications were cut, and more drones were seen hovering overhead, leaving the crew and volunteers stranded while bracing for further assault.
Shortly after the strikes, an unidentified tugboat arrived but initially offered no assistance. Despite repeated requests from the Conscience crew to help fight the fire, the tugboat circled the burning ship for approximately an hour before finally activating its water hose. The fire took nearly two hours to extinguish. The tugboat repeatedly urged the crew to abandon the ship. However, doing so would have rendered the vessel, together with the humanitarian aid on board, vulnerable to seizure, further jeopardizing our ability to continue our effort to sail and break the siege of Gaza. This may have been the intended outcome.
CNN reported that an Israeli Air Force C-130 Hercules flew toward Malta hours before the attack on the Conscience. Flight-tracking data shows that the aircraft flew at low altitude over eastern Malta for an extended period before returning to Israel. The Israeli military has declined to comment.
The Conscience was preparing to confront Israel’s unlawful blockade of Gaza–a blockade which, for 18 years has denied Palestinians in Gaza access to adequate food, medical care, education, and the fundamental right to freedom of movement. Since October 2023, emboldened by total impunity, Israel has escalated its assault on the Palestinian people, waging a genocidal campaign in which the siege is a central weapon. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition stands in defiance of this injustice, affirming the full political and human rights of the Palestinian people, including their Right of Return, and exposing the complicity of governments and corporations in maintaining Israel’s system of apartheid.
Freedom Flotilla Coalition media team.