The NGO Moviment Graffitti has called on the Maltese government to grant a Freedom Flottila vessel which suffered a drone strike just outside Maltese waters a Maltese flag as an act of solidarity.

The ‘Conscience’ – a vessel belonging to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which works to try and funnel aid into the blockaded Gaza Strip – suffered a fire over the course of last night.  The coalition said in a statement that its vessel, which had 16 people onboard, was struck by an armed drone.

It was in international waters just outside Malta’s territory at the time of the attack. The Malta Vessel Traffic Services dispatched a tugboat which was in the area to help put the fire out, and an Armed Forces of Malta patrol boat was also sent on site.

In a statement, Moviment Graffitti said that the vessel had been de-flagged by the Republic of Palau just hours before the attack – “a move that suggests this was a planned assault by powerful actors.”

Since the attack, reports have emerged that an Israeli Air Force C-130 Hercules flew into Maltese airspace and patrolled the area around Hurd’s Bank – where the coalition vessel was – at an altitude as low as 5,000 feet.  The aircraft did not appear to have permission from Maltese authorities to enter its airspace.

The bombing happened only hours later. There is no confirmation of a link between the Israeli military plane and what happened to the Flotilla.

“This violent act, occurring so close to Malta’s shores, is deeply alarming. It is a clear sign of the State of Israel’s growing sense of impunity and its continued disregard for international law and human life – now striking very close to home. The Maltese Government’s silence in the face of such a serious incident, that is widely seen as an attack on Europe, is incomprehensible and unacceptable,” the NGO said.

Graffitti said that the Maltese authorities must act immediately to bring ashore the ship and the civilians now stranded at sea following this criminal attack.

“The government should also grant the vessel a Maltese flag as a sign of support for humanitarian efforts and international law,” it said.

The NGO added that Malta must open an investigation into this drone attack and clarify whether Maltese airspace was used to target a civilian humanitarian ship and if its sovereignty has been violated.