Gaza humanitarian aid ship bombed by drones in waters off Malta

A ship carrying humanitarian aid and activists for Gaza has been bombed by drones and disabled while in international waters off Malta as it headed towards the Palestinian territory, its organisers said. ‘At 00.23 Maltese time, the Conscience, a Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship, came under direct attack in international waters,’ the group said in a statement. ‘Armed drones attacked the front of an unarmed civilian vessel twice, causing a fire and a substantial breach in the hull,’ it added, blaming Israel. Israel has not commented on the allegation. The strike appeared to target the boat’s generator early on Friday, leaving it without power and at risk of sinking, the activists said. Twelve crew members and four civilians were ‘confirmed safe’, the Maltese government said in a statement on Friday. ‘The vessel had 12 crew members on board and four civilian passengers; no casualties were reported,’ the statement said, adding that a nearby tug had been directed to aid the vessel Gaza humanitarian aid ship bombed by drones in waters off Malta