Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Saturday condemned a drone attack, allegedly carried out by Israel, on a ship carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza.
He referred to an incident reported by the international non-governmental organization Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which said its Gaza aid ship “Conscience” was bombed by drones in international waters off the coast of Malta early on Friday, blaming the strike on Israel.
In a statement released by his ministry, Baghaei said the attack on the ship was carried out in line with Israel’s plan against the Palestinians and to ensure the continuation of the Gaza aid blockade, calling it “a clear crime against Palestinians and a terrorist action against maritime security and safety.”
He stressed that depriving Gaza residents, particularly children, women, and the wounded, of food, water, and medicines was considered “a clear instance of war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
Baghaei also described the United States and other supporters of Israel as accomplices in “these crimes,” voicing Iran’s solidarity with the “oppressed” Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
On Friday, Malta’s government confirmed that maritime authorities had received a distress call from a vessel outside the country’s territorial waters and offered immediate assistance. Local media said the vessel’s crew members were rescued, with no injuries reported. The media reports noted that an Israeli military aircraft hovered around Malta hours before the vessel was attacked.
Israel has not officially commented on the incident or related reports so far.
