Drone Strike Hits Ship Delivering Humanitarian Aid to Gaza, Organizers Confirm
Gaza City – A ship carrying much-needed humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip was reportedly struck by drones on Thursday, in what organizers have described as a deliberate attack on international relief efforts amidst escalating confrontations over access to the besieged enclave.
The vessel, part of an independently organized humanitarian convoy, was en route to Gaza via international waters when it was targeted. Organizers of the aid mission said the ship was carrying food, medical supplies, and other essential items intended to ease the deepening humanitarian crisis in the war-torn region.
According to a statement from the aid group, several drones approached the vessel before one released an explosive device that caused structural damage to the deck. No fatalities were reported, but crew members sustained minor injuries and the ship was forced to halt its journey temporarily.
“This attack is a blatant violation of international humanitarian law,” said the mission’s spokesperson. “We were carrying only civilian relief items and had notified all relevant authorities of our route. This was a peaceful mission — and now, innocent lives and vital aid have been jeopardized.”
The group has not officially named the party responsible, though suspicion has immediately turned toward regional powers involved in the ongoing Gaza conflict. Israel, which has maintained a naval blockade of Gaza since 2007, has not commented on the incident as of Friday morning. However, the Israeli military has previously expressed concern that aid shipments could be exploited to smuggle weapons or military supplies to Hamas or other militant groups.
The drone strike comes as global pressure mounts on all parties to ensure uninterrupted humanitarian access to Gaza. The coastal strip, already suffering from severe infrastructure collapse, widespread displacement, and shortages of medical supplies, has seen intensified violence in recent months following renewed hostilities between Israel and armed factions within Gaza.
United Nations agencies and humanitarian watchdogs have condemned any interference with civilian aid missions and have called for an independent investigation into the incident.
“This act threatens to further delay life-saving aid to over two million people in Gaza,” said a spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). “Safe and unimpeded humanitarian access is not optional — it is a legal and moral imperative.”
International maritime authorities have also been alerted, and diplomatic sources say several countries are calling for emergency talks on the security of aid corridors to Gaza, particularly via sea routes that are becoming increasingly risky.
The damaged vessel is now being escorted to a nearby port for repairs and further inspection. Organizers have vowed to continue their mission and said they are working to reroute other vessels with additional aid cargo to ensure Gaza residents receive the assistance they desperately need.
As tensions escalate over the control and delivery of humanitarian relief, the attack marks a dangerous new chapter in the already volatile landscape of Gaza’s ongoing crisis — where even lifelines of hope are now coming under fire.
Source : Swifteradio.com
