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Beastly Boy

(13,107 posts)
Sun May 4, 2025, 11:00 AM May 4

NGO says Malta blocking access to Gaza-bound aid ship hit by drones [View all]

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/



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?
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