Drones Strike Ship Carrying Gaza Aid   05/02 06:24

   

   TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) -- Drones attacked a vessel carrying aid to Gaza while 
it was in international waters off Malta on Friday, the group organizing the 
shipment said. A fire broke out but was brought under control, according to 
authorities.

   A nearby tugboat responded to a distress call from the Conscience, which was 
carrying 12 crew members and four civilians, Malta's government said, adding 
that those aboard refused to leave their ship. The group was safe and no 
injuries were reported, it said.

   The Freedom Flotilla Coalition accused Israel of attacking its ship. It did 
not provide evidence of that or that the fire was caused by drones, but in a 
video it shared an explosion can be heard. Another video showed a fire blazing.

   The Israeli army didn't respond to a request for comment.

   Israel has cut off Gaza from all imports, including food and medicine, since 
the beginning of March, leading to what is believed to be the worst 
humanitarian crisis in nearly 19 months of war with Hamas.

   Israel says it is an attempt to pressure the militant group to release 
hostages it took during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the conflict. 
Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel that day, killing some 1,200 
people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Hamas is still holding 59 
hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive.

   In response, Israel launched an offensive that has killed over 52,000 
Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, 
which does not say how many of the dead were fighters or civilians. Israel's 
bombardment and ground operations have destroyed vast areas of the territory 
and left most of its population homeless.

   When an aid flotilla attempted to break a blockade of Gaza in 2010, Israeli 
forces stormed a Turkish ship, Mavi Marmara, killing nine people on board.

   On Friday, the Conscience was hit about 16 miles (26 kilometers) from Malta, 
according to the Freedom Flotilla.

   Charlie Andreasson, who has been involved with the group for more than a 
decade, told The Associated Press that he had spoken to people on board who 
said there were two explosions and a fire broke out.

   Photos provided by the Cypriot authorities showed the ship with damage to 
its side. People on board the ship were not immediately reachable for comment.

   Earlier the group said the strike appeared to have targeted the ship's 
generator, causing a "substantial breach in the hull" and leaving it without 
power. It said that put the vessel at risk of sinking.

   The incident comes as aid groups have warned that the humanitarian response 
in Gaza is on the verge of collapse.

   The International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday it will not have 
access to food, medicine, and life-saving supplies needed for many of its Gaza 
programs if aid deliveries don't resume immediately.

   Programs at risk include "common kitchens" that often give residents the 
only meal they receive each day and could be forced to halt operations in a few 
weeks, the ICRC said.

   "Aid must be allowed to enter Gaza. Hostages must be released. Civilians 
must be protected," it said. "Without immediate action, Gaza will descend 
further into chaos that humanitarian efforts will not be able to mitigate."