Gaza activists say their aid vessel was hit by drones off the coast of Malta

A ship carrying aid heading for Gaza was attacked by drones in international waters off Malta early Friday, the group organizing the mission said.

A ship carrying aid and volunteers heading for Gaza was attacked by drones in international waters off Malta early Friday, the group organizing the mission said.

Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the aid group running the mission, blamed Israel for the attack but did not provide evidence for that allegation. NBC News' reached out to the Israel Defense Forces and the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but did not immediately receive any response.

The attack came exactly two months after Israel, on March 2, imposed a full blockade on the entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza including food, medicine, and other critical supplies.

Freedom Flotilla Coalition posted video footage on X early Friday showing a fire on the Conscience — the name of the vessel hit by the alleged drone attack — with volunteers from more than 21 countries having boarded in Malta for the mission to Gaza.

A tugboat extinguishes a fire onboard an aid vessel bound for Gaza in Maltese waters Friday.Malta Government Department of Information“On the morning of their scheduled departure, the vessel was attacked,” the organizers said in a statement Friday, adding that the ship issued an SOS distress signal shortly after armed drones caused a fire and a substantial breach in the hull.