A humanitarian aid ship en route to Gaza was allegedly struck by a drone in international waters off the coast of Malta early Friday, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an international non-governmental organization campaigning to end Israel’s blockade of Gaza.

The organization, which posted video footage showing flames engulfing part of the vessel, reported that the attack occurred 17 nautical miles (31.5 kilometers) east of Malta. The ship issued an SOS distress call, to which Cyprus responded by dispatching a vessel.

No immediate information was available about casualties, but the NGO warned that the ship, carrying 30 international human rights activists, was at risk of sinking. The group stated that the drone strike appeared to have specifically targeted the ship’s generator, crippling essential systems onboard.

There has been no confirmation of responsibility for the attack, and the situation remains fluid, according to Reuters.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which has been involved in previous attempts to breach the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza, has not publicly assigned blame but emphasized the urgent need to protect humanitarian missions.

The Gaza blockade, imposed by Israel since 2007, has been a flashpoint for international criticism, with humanitarian groups warning of deepening crisis conditions in the coastal enclave. The flotilla’s mission is part of a renewed effort to deliver aid amid the ongoing war in Gaza.

The conflict escalated sharply after the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led assault on southern Israel, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages, according to Israeli officials. In response, Israel launched a sustained offensive that has, according to Palestinian health authorities, killed more than 52,000 people in Gaza.

The latest incident has revived memories of the 2010 flotilla raid, during which Israeli forces boarded a Turkish ship, killing nine activists. Other vessels since then have been intercepted without fatalities.

As of Friday morning, there has been no official comment from Israeli or Maltese authorities regarding the drone strike.