Activist Greta Thunberg Among Those In Malta Waiting To Board Gaza Freedom Flotilla
Climate activist Greta Thunberg is among the 40 humanitarians, preparing to board a Gaza-bound aid vessel that was hit by a suspected drone attack just outside Malta’s territorial waters earlier this morning.
The mission was part of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, aimed at delivering humanitarian supplies and drawing attention to Israel’s siege on Gaza.
However, the mission was abruptly stopped on Friday when a fire broke out on the vessel ‘The Conscience’, which activists say was caused by two drone strikes.
Speaking to Times of Malta, Greta Thunberg described the incident as “yet another crystal clear example of how international law and human rights are being completely disrespected.”
Thunberg also said the team in Malta was “incredibly worried for their comrades on the boat” and shocked that such an attack happened so close to an EU country.
Activists in Malta also told Times of Malta they had been trying to board the vessel for days, but were not granted clearance by local authorities.
The Maltese government said a nearby tug boat extinguished the fire at 1.28am.
The Armed Forces of Malta also dispatched a patrol vessel but the crew aboard the aid ship refused to leave, insisting they needed to stay to ensure the cargo remained safe.
The ship remains outside Maltese territorial waters and is being monitored by the relevant authorities