NGO says Malta blocking access to Gaza-bound aid ship hit by drones

[Beastly Boy]

Source: Reuters

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an international non-governmental group, said Israel, which has blockaded Gaza in its war against Palestinian Hamas militants, was to blame for the incident. Israel has not responded to requests for comment.

The ship Conscience, operated by the coalition, suffered damage to its front section including a loss of power when hit just outside Maltese territorial waters in the southern Mediterranean, the NGO said.

It had been waiting to take on board some 30 peace activists from around the world before trying to sail to Gaza at the eastern end of the Mediterranean to deliver food and medicines.The NGO said volunteers from 13 countries who tried to reach the ship from Malta on Friday and Saturday were intercepted by the Maltese military, which had forced them back to Malta under threat of arrest.

--snip--

Prime Minister Robert Abela said Malta was continuing to offer assistance to the ship, but that Malta's security needed to be safeguarded. He said the ship's captain was continuing to refuse to allow a surveyor and Malta police on board. Once it was verified that the ship's cargo was solely humanitarian, Malta would facilitate repairs so that it could continue its voyage to Gaza, Abela said.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/ngo-says-malta-blocking-access-gaza-bound-aid-ship-hit-by-drones-2025-05-04/

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Why would a disabled ship full of humanitarian supplies, allegedly at risk of sinking, which sent an SOS distress call just 24 hours earlier not allow a Maltese government surveyor to board it?

And why did the Maltese military force some 30 peace activists to return back to Malta under threat of arrest?

[stopdiggin]

1. why indeed ?

"ship's captain was continuing to refuse to allow a surveyor and Malta police on board"

Whatever are we to conclude .. ?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[Richard D]

7. Without doubt . . .

. . . it's so they don't find his porn collection, or something. Maybe guns and bombs?

[stopdiggin]

2. Greta - recommending that you might want to

book with another agency ...
(or perhaps just rethink .. )

[MarineCombatEngineer]

3. Oh, I think we know the reason why the captain is refusing to let a surveyor and Malta police on board

the logical conclusion would be that there is cargo aboard that the captain doesn't wish to be found and as far as the 30 "peace activists", there must have been some indications that these weren't who they claimed they are.

I suspect, and only my opinion, but there are weapons aboard to outfit the "peace activists" for action against Israeli troops when the ship reached Gaza.

[Beastly Boy]

4. Weapons for the starving Gazan children? Noooo!

As someone noted earlier, those Palestinian children weren’t going to starve themselves. No shit.

[Richard D]

5. Reposting your post

Malta, Greece, Turkey said threatening to seize Gaza activists' drone-hit ship if it docks

Source: Times of Israel

At least three countries are said to have denied entry and threatened to confiscate a reportedly Hamas-affiliated Gaza-bound humanitarian aid ship whose operators accused Israel on Friday of attacking it with drones in international waters near Malta.

Tighe Barry, an activist with anti-war group Codepink, told the Associated Press that the Pacific island nation of Palau, which has warm ties with Israel, revoked its flag from the Conscience prior to the alleged attack.

As a result, authorities in Malta, Greece and Turkey have warned that they would seize the ship if it comes to port, he said, adding that it was unclear where the vessel could stop for repairs. There was no formal comment from those countries.

--snip--

The Saudi Al Arabiya news channel reported, citing a Western security source, that Hamas was behind the Conscience vessel and that those onboard planned to engage with troops from the Israel Defense Forces as they approached the Gaza shore.

Read more: https://www.timesofisrael.com/malta-greece-turkey-said-threatening-to-seize-gaza-activists-drone-hit-ship-if-it-docks/

[Beastly Boy]

9. It's not just your opinion. The registry of the ship was revoked by the State of Palau

at some time before the incident.

The ship is now stateless, not protected by international law or permitted to navigate on high seas or enter ports.

Shit like this doesn't just happen for hauling humanitarian aid or inviting Greta Thunberg on board... Ok, I am not sure of the latter: there is no precedent in international law for that.

[Richard D]

6. In the spew of Greta . . .

. . . She supports Palestine Speaks, a group that calls the October 7th massacre “a revolutionary day to be proud of”. and "Crush Zionism, and Fuck Zionism." and she said nothing after Oct 7.

It's clear what she is. Too bad. I had a lot of hope for her.

[Mountainguy]

8. hmmmmm

What is, theoretically of course....

1: There weren't any drones and the ship suffered an unintended detonation of something already on board.
2: 30 Peace Activists all had matching balaclavas and headbands in their bags.



That's a pretty shitty looking ship in the first place. If Israel ordinance hit it, it would be on the bottom. Plus that, Israel has a modern navy that can easily interdict vessels in the Mediterranean, especially given the limited shoreline that they need to block in Gaza. Color me very skeptical that Israel is attacking ships 1200 miles off their coast.