Extract from ABC News
Pro-Palestinian activists have reported their ship was hit by drone fire in international waters near Malta.
In short:
A group of pro-Palestinian activists say their ship has been struck by drone fire in international waters off the coast of Malta.
Four Australian activists were preparing to board the ship in Malta and journey to Gaza with humanitarian aid.
What's next?
The Maltese government said "all crew were confirmed safe" and that a nearby tug had been directed to aid the vessel.
A group of pro-Palestinian activists say their ship has been struck by drone fire in international waters off the coast of Malta.
The group, the Freedom Flotilla coalition, says its passenger ship, Conscience, was 13 nautical miles east of Malta when it was struck twice in the bow, 20 minutes after midnight local time.
According to the group, the strikes damaged the ship's generator and it was taking on water.
The group says there are 30 activists on board and they have not heard from them for several hours.
Four Australian activists were preparing to board the ship in Malta and journey to Gaza, which remains under an Israeli blockade, with food, medical supplies and others.
The Maltese government said "all crew were confirmed safe" and that a nearby tug had been directed to aid the vessel.
Their statement said the vessel had 12 crew members on board and four civilian passengers, and that the fire was under control.
"By 2:13am, all crew were confirmed safe but refused to board the tug … The ship remains outside territorial waters and is being monitored by the competent authorities," the statement concluded.
Australian Tania Safi said the last they had heard from those on board was that the fire was out but the Conscience was still "filling with water very quickly".
They labelled the event "abhorrent".
"These were humanitarians on board that were just sitting there sleeping," they said.
"It's just shocking. I'm terrified for their safety at the moment."
They also vehemently denied the vessel held any weapons.
"Every single mission is done abiding to international law," they added.
"Every single person is checked."
Surya McEwen was preparing to board the ship when it was reportedly struck.
Surya McEwen from Goonengerry in Northern NSW was another Australian activist who was preparing to board.
Mr McEwen confirmed reports the ship had no power.
"There's no power on the ship, and it's at serious risk," he told the ABC.
The group had no "evidence directly yet" of who was responsible for the strikes, Mr McEwen said.
The Israel Defense Forces is yet to comment.
In 2010, Israeli commandos boarded a similar ship, the MV Mavi Marmara, and killed nine Turkish citizens and one Turkish-American citizen who were onboard.
The Israeli government said at the time that its forces were attacked by people onboard, which was disputed by the activists.
ABC/Reuters
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