An Israeli drone attacked a ship near Malta, claiming it was trying to break the blockade on the Gaza Strip, which is being subjected to an ongoing Israeli war and genocide.

CNN quoted the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which is heading to Gaza, as saying that "the flotilla ship that was attacked by a drone is now sinking."

The media official for the Freedom Flotilla Coalition heading to Gaza said, "There is a hole in the ship, and we sent out distress calls."

Other reports indicated that the ship was attacked by an Israeli drone, indicating that the ship was anchored in international waters near Malta.

Reports indicated that the ship "caught fire as a result of the Israeli attack." According to some reports, the ship sent a distress signal, but only southern Cyprus responded.

On May 31, 2010, the Israeli Navy launched an attack on the Mavi Marmara ship in international waters off the coast of the Gaza Strip, killing 10 Turkish activists.

The Mavi Marmara was part of the Freedom Flotilla, a group of six ships, two of which belong to the Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH).

The six ships carried approximately 10,000 tons of relief supplies and humanitarian aid, in addition to approximately 750 human rights and political activists, including journalists representing international media outlets.

In early March 2025, the first phase of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel, which had gone into effect on January 19, 2025, concluded. However, Israel reneged on the agreement, resuming the war on the 18th of the same month.

Since March 2, Israel has closed the Gaza Strip's crossings to the entry of food, relief, medical aid, and goods, causing a significant deterioration in the humanitarian situation.

This humanitarian crisis comes amid the displacement of more than 90 percent of Gaza's population from their homes. Some have experienced this situation more than once, living in overcrowded shelters or out in the open without shelter, which has increased the spread of diseases and epidemics.

The war on Gaza left more than 170,000 dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 11,000 missing, amid massive destruction.