AN ACTIVIST-RUN ship on a mission to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza was attacked by drones in international waters off the coast of Malta this morning, its organisers said.

The Conscience, a 68-metre-long passenger ship carrying volunteers from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), set sail from the Mediterranean island nation to the besieged Palestinian territory on Thursday.

The grassroots solidarity movement whose goal is to end Israel’s two-month illegal blockade of Gaza said they had been organising the non-violent action under a ”media black out” in hopes of avoiding any potential sabotage.

But the Conscience didn’t make it very far.

At 12:23am this morning, two weaponised drones ”attacked the front of an unarmed civilian vessel twice, causing a fire and a substantial breach in the hull,” the FFC said.

Video filmed from the ship and posted on FFC’s social media channels today didn’t show the drones. But it did show a large fire blazing on the bow, and two loud bangs.

The crew sent out an SOS distress message to the Maltese authorities following the alleged attack, but the country’s maritime authorities did not respond.

Italy’s maritime authorities, however, did act upon the legal duty to respond to SOS messages, and said this morning that a tugboat was on its way to the ship.

Photos taken from the Conscience and shared on social media this afternoon showed extensive fire damage to its bow.

”The drone strike appears to have deliberately targeted the ship’s generator,” the FFC said, ”leaving the crew without power and placing the vessel at great risk of sinking.”

According to the ship-tracking website marinetraffic.com, the Conscience was still sitting off the coast of Malta when the Star went to print last night.

Prominent climate activist Greta Thunberg, who has been involved with FFC’s humanitarian mission, called on supporters to demand action from the authorities.

”Attacking a humanitarian mission is a war crime,” the Swede said in a video posted online.

”We need you to demand your government stops all aid to Israel and demands an end to the illegal siege” (of Gaza).

Fellow FFC activist Rebeca Ruiz said the boat was carrying family members of humanitarian activists on the Mavi Marmara — one of six civilian ships delivering aid to Gaza that the Israeli military attacked in 2010, killing 10 activists and wounding 30.

”They were trying to complete their loved ones’ legacy by responding to a call for solidarity with the people of Palestine to break Israel’s deadly blockade,” Ms Ruiz said.

”But again, as the Freedom Flotilla carried desperately needed aid across the Mediterranean, our opponents were loading their weapons.”

As yet, no-one has claimed responsibility for the attack. And, as of publication, the FFC hasn't directly accused anyone of carrying it out, either.

But, the FFC did share the following message from Itamar Mann, an associate professor at the University of Haifa, Israel:

“Assuming, as appears to be the case, that the attack is attributable to Israel, it signals a clear violation of the right to life, as well as a war crime.

"It is only lucky that the measure has not claimed lives.

"The location of the attack, in international waters proximate to Malta, requires urgent investigation and accountability.

"I expect maritime safety authorities, too, to re-examine their relations with Israel, due to the violation of the freedom of navigation, and the risk imposed upon the seafaring community in the Mediterranean.”