Overview

• A vessel from the Gaza Freedom Flotilla caught fire 14 nautical miles off Malta's coast, prompting rescue operations by Maltese and Cypriot authorities.
• Activists allege the fire was caused by two drone strikes and hold Israel responsible, but no independent verification of these claims or video evidence has been made.
• The Maltese army extinguished the fire, and all passengers—reported as either 30 or 16, depending on sources—were safely evacuated.
• The ship's hull reportedly suffered a crack, raising concerns that it might sink, though its current stability remains unclear.
• Israel has not commented on the allegations, and the incident highlights ongoing tensions surrounding the naval blockade of Gaza and humanitarian efforts to breach it.