Gaza activists plead for Malta vessel entry; government says crew refusing help

Updated 7.55pm with European Commissioner statement

A Gaza-bound flotilla remains stranded in international waters just outside  Malta on Saturday, almost two days after sustaining damage following a “drone attack”,  with the Maltese coast guard flatly refusing it permission to enter territorial waters.

While the government is insisting that it is offering to help all the crew on board, the NGO wants the damaged vessel to inch closer to Malta, fearing another attack.

In a statement on Saturday, the government insisted that every offer of assistance has been refused by the activists.

It said the Maltese authorities have provided assistance "from the outset" with fire-fighting measures and with the deployment of an AFM vessel to assist the vessel and crew.

"Today, the crew and people on board were again offered rescue, which was refused," a government spokesperson said.

"Malta is offering to send a marine surveyor on board to assess the reported damage sustained by the vessel, and according to the relevant findings, to assist in any emergency repairs necessary to enable the vessel to sail to its intended destination. The vessel’s captain has refused to allow the surveyor to board the vessel."

No reference was made to the Conscience's request to enter Maltese territorial waters.

A video circulated on social media shows the captain of the vessel in a call with the Maltese coastguard asking to "at least enter three to four miles extra to feel safe" but the request was repeatedly declined.

"I am just following orders from higher authorities," the coast guard is heard replying. "I cannot give you authorisation to enter territorial waters".

The captain explains on the call that the crew is "feeling unsafe in this location and we are asking just to enter at least three to four miles extra to feel safe."

"We are expecting another terrorist attack," he tells the Armed Forces of Malta.

When contacted, a spokesperson for the flotilla said the activists had no choice but to press charges against the Maltese government. 

"Just now our two little boats carrying activists were stopped by the Maltese military as they attempted to join the Conscience. They are still shocked. The generator was deliberately attacked. The lower deck is filling up with water. There is a lot of water at the moment. They are trying to get the water out with buckets."

The boat was located 14 nautical miles off the coast of Malta when the incident happened in the early hours of Friday morning just outside territorial waters. Nobody was injured in the incident, which many have pinned on Israel.

The vessel had sustained damage to the front after activists claiming they had been targeted "twice" resulting in a fire and a breach of the hull.

"The drone attack appears to have specifically targeted the ship’s generator, and the vessel is now at risk of sinking with 30 international human rights activists on board," activists said.

Times of Malta is informed that the government is barring the vessel because it is carrying no flag and has no insurance - even if the right of passage of humanitarian assistance is guaranteed by the Geneva conventions.

Palau - the flag bearer of the vessel - removed the Conscience from its vessel register just a day before the incident.

The crew insisted they wanted to remain on board their vessel to ensure their cargo, which consists of humanitarian aid, is secure. 

The attack was widely reported in international media and sparked worldwide condemnation. Israel has not assumed responsibility for the attack.

Moviment Graffitti has joined forces with Ġustizzja għall-Palestina, The Lebanese Advocates and Youth for Palestine to "urgently call on the Prime Minister and the entire government to do what is just and necessary: let the Conscience in".

The NGOs are organising a gathering on Sunday at 5.30pm in Castille Square, Valletta, to demand that the government allow entry to the humanitarian ship.

Meanwhile, political party Momentum said crucial questions remain unanswered by the government especially since the incident took place inside Malta's Exclusive Economic Zone, Flight Information Region, and Search and Rescue  area - zones where Malta has clear responsibilities.

"Specifically, has the Israeli Ambassador been called in by the Foreign Ministry to hear Malta's firm condemnation? This was a threatening, violent, and unprovoked act against an unarmed civilian ship, and Malta cannot remain silent," Momentum said.

The Imam Mohammed Elsadi on Saturday condemned the attack as a "flagrant shameful aggression against humanity" and called on the prime minister "to permit the damaged vessel to enter Malta to secure the safety of activitis on board".

"This is a humanitarian mission that should cause no harm to Malta," he said, adding "such a humanitarian assistance operation enhances and confirms the actual neutrality of Malta."

In a post on X, the European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport Glenn Micallef condemned the attack as "a blatant violation of international law in stark contrast to our European values and contrary to basic humanity."

He wrote: "Humanitarian aid is vital for the people of Gaza to survive - especially for children. For two months now, children in the Gaza Strip have been deprived of essential goods, services and lifesaving care. Every attack on an aid transport, whether on land or at sea, is an attack on children."