A ship carrying aid to Gaza was damaged in an apparent drone strike near Malta early Friday, prompting Swedish climate alarmist Greta Thunberg to speak out against what she described as "violations of international law" and demand access for humanitarian relief. The boat was attempted to run the Israeli blockade of Gaza and had its flag revoked by the Republic of Palau ahead of the drone strike.

Thunberg had been set to join the vessel as part of a mission bythe Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an international NGO that blamed Israel for the attack. The group has a mission "to end the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza," which they say has been ongoing for 17 years, since Israel withdrew from Gaza and Hamas took charge of government.

The ship, named the Conscience, caught fire in international waters outside Malta. Video released by the group shows flames onboard and explosions heard in the background. The NGO said the strike left a breach in the hull and disabled the generator, risking the vessel's ability to stay afloat.

Maltese authorities said they received a mayday call just after midnight local time. Authorities responded with a patrol vessel and a nearby tug. Those authorities, along with those in Greece and Turkey, have said the boat would be confiscated if it docked at their points. 

They reported 16 people onboard, though Thunberg and the coalition say there were 30. The crew reportedly declined to board the tugboat. Without a flag or insurance, the boat will have trouble finding a willing port.

"We are offering to pay for the repairs after we confirm the ship is, indeed, carrying humanitarian aid," Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela said. "That’s another fact that must be established, as the crew is yet to provide a list of what is on board the vessel. The moment we confirm it’s humanitarian aid for Gaza, we will take care of the repairs."

"The captain is refusing to let the surveyor on board," Abela said. "We also offered to take all crew and passengers in, but the offer was refused."

"Israeli ambassadors must be summoned and answer to violations of international law, including the ongoing blockade (of Gaza) and the bombing of our civilian vessel in international waters," the group said, according to USA Today.

Thunberg told Reuters she was in Malta awaiting transfer to the ship when the incident occurred. "This attack caused an explosion and major damage to the vessel, which made it impossible to continue the mission," she said in a Zoom interview. "I was part of the group who was supposed to board that boat today to continue the voyage towards Gaza."

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition said the ship was preparing to receive activists by transfer from another vessel, avoiding a port docking due to bureaucratic concerns.

A spokeswoman, Caoimhe Butterly, confirmed that the strike occurred during this preparation.

The Israeli foreign ministry did not immediately respond to the allegations. Hamas condemned the incident, calling it "piracy" and "state terrorism."

Thunberg would reiterrerate her support for the Palestinian people, saying the international community must act. "I was supposed to be there. I'm still here," she said. "But the mission must go on."