Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001867/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Mimmo Lucano (The Left)
On 1 May 2025, a Freedom Flotilla Coalition vessel bound for Gaza, with approximately 30 activists and humanitarian aid on board, was attacked by a drone while it was in international waters, close to Malta’s exclusive economic zone, according to consistent sources.
The attack caused a fire on board and the crew put out an SOS. Although it was the closest coastal state, Malta did not provide immediate relief – a unit from Cyprus intervened later. The vessel, which was sailing under the flag of Palau, was carrying civilian goods for the Palestinian population.
This episode raises serious concerns about compliance with the international law of the sea, the duty to render assistance at sea and the protection of civilian missions in the context of conflict.
In the light of the above:
- 1.Has the Commission been officially informed of the attack and has it discussed the matter with the Maltese and Cypriot authorities?
- 2.Will it call for an independent investigation to clarify what actually happened and who was responsible?
- 3.Taking account of EU standards and international conventions, what practical steps will the Commission take to ensure that European civilian humanitarian missions are protected in international waters?
Submitted: 8.5.2025