Freedom Flotilla Coalition Still Denied Investigation.
NOTE: Clearing the FOG interviewed members of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, Ann Wright and Tighe Barry, shortly after the attack. Listen to that program here.
Malta – The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) announces two significant developments in the aftermath of the May 2 Israeli drone attack on the Conscience in international waters.
Firstly, we are relieved to confirm that the remaining 12 crew members who remained stranded at sea have now safely returned to their home countries. After over two weeks of unjustifiable delay and denial of safe harbor, Maltese authorities finally permitted them to disembark and depart. These volunteers faced not only the trauma of unprovoked Israeli military strikes, but also the risk of further attacks while stranded. Their safe return is a testament to their courage, perseverance and steadfast commitment to challenging Israel’s illegal siege of Gaza.
Secondly, after two weeks of persistent requests, Maltese authorities have finally released the long-delayed Marine Casualty Damage Report for the Conscience. These findings confirm key facts that the FFC has asserted from the beginning:
- The vessel was subject to two aerial attacks.
- There was no internal explosion that occurred; all damage resulted from external impacts.
- The fire onboard was directly caused by the aerial strikes on the upper deck, which triggered cascading structural failures.
- No high-risk or flammable substances were found inside the vessel that could have caused or contributed to an internal explosion.
- There were no weapons onboard.
- There was humanitarian aid onboard, though the report does not quantify it.
Despite these critical findings, Maltese and European Union authorities have still not permitted an independent, international forensic investigation of the Conscience—a demand the FFC has made repeatedly. This refusal to ensure full transparency and accountability is deeply troubling.
The bombing of a civilian vessel in European territory, without international condemnation or serious inquiry, underscores a broader pattern: Israel’s escalating violence against civilians is met with silence and complicity from the international community. The attack on the Conscience is not an isolated incident, but part of a decades-long pattern of impunity—now extending far beyond Gaza’s borders. As we prepare to launch our next action with the yacht Madleen, we do so with the sobering knowledge that, in a world unwilling to restrain Israeli aggression, our civilian vessels remain vulnerable. Yet we also move forward with renewed determination—because Palestinians in Gaza still call, and the world must respond.
As the 15th anniversary of Israel’s deadly raid on the Mavi Marmara (May 31, 2010) approaches, we remember Israel’s brutal killing of 10 humanitarian volunteers, wounding and abduction of many others, and the international community’s ongoing failure to deliver justice or accountability. That tragic day remains etched in our collective memory, and reinforces our determination to prevent such violence from ever happening again.
The attack on the Conscience, like all previous attacks on our Flotilla vessels, will not deter us. The FFC remains determined to break Israel’s illegal and inhumane blockade of Gaza. The Madleen, will sail soon to challenge Israel’s criminal blockade and help establish a sea corridor to Gaza that is not controlled by the Israeli occupier. Named after a renowned fisherwoman in Gaza, the Madleen embodies our commitment to nonviolent resistance and solidarity.
The FFC calls on governments to guarantee safe passage for our vessels and to uphold international law, echoing a call from UN experts last year. We urge media outlets and civil society to amplify this call and to hold Israel responsible for its continued war crimes. We call on people of conscience around the world to stand with the Palestinian people, raise their voices in solidarity, and pressure their governments to end complicity in Israel’s decades-long illegal occupation, deadly siege on Gaza, and the unfolding genocide.
We will not stop. We will continue our direct nonviolent actions until the blockade is ended, and until Palestine is free.
