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Hello and welcome to Spotlight. Israel's blockade on Gaza knows no borders as a civilian aid ship bound for Gaza has been hit by Israeli drone strikes in international waters off Malta. Outrage is growing as activists and human rights organizations have slammed the attack, calling it a grave violation of international law, marking yet another violent escalation in Israel's long-standing campaign to block humanitarian missions from reaching Gaza.

The vessel, part of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, was struck near Malta, igniting a fire and forcing the crew to send out a desperate distress signal. The Maltese government confirmed 16 people were on board, but the Freedom Flotilla Coalition insists there were 30 activists and crew members, all civilians, whose lives were at risk. The coalition has called for Israeli ambassadors worldwide to be summoned, demanding accountability for what they describe as a blatant violation of international law, including the bombing of civilian ships and the illegal blockade of Gaza.

Reacting to the Israeli attacks, Hamas condemned it as state terrorism and maritime piracy, urging the UN Security Council to take immediate action. Palestinian Islamic Jihad echoed those calls, accusing Israel of endangering humanitarian workers and flouting moral and legal norms. Both groups praised the activists for their bravery, emphasizing that their mission was purely humanitarian to deliver urgently needed food and medical supplies to Gaza's starving and besieged population. The Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement also reacted to the attack, saying that it shows Israel has no respect for international law and conventions.

This is not an isolated incident, as human rights organizations point to a clear and documented pattern of Israeli aggression against aid flotillas. Euromed Humanitarian Rights Monitor has called for an independent investigation, stating that the attack violates the UN Charter, the Law of the Sea, and the Rome Statute, which prohibits targeting humanitarian missions. The group stressed that Israel has a history of using lethal force to prevent aid from reaching Gaza, even in international waters, far from its own shores. The most infamous case was the 2010 Gaza flotilla raid, when Israeli commandos stormed the Mavi Marmara, killing nine activists and wounding dozens. That ship, like this one, carried no weapons, only medicine, food, and building materials for Gaza's civilians. Israel confiscated evidence, leaving survivors to recount the horror.

Now, 14 years later, the same brutal tactics are being used again, as Gaza's 2.3 million people remain trapped under a 17-year blockade, with hospitals out of medicine, children starving, and families eating animal feed to survive.

And these are our guests joining us for tonight's edition of Spotlight. International coordinator at the Samadun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, Charlotte Kates, joining us from the Lebanese capital, Beirut. And we also have Kevin Barrett joining us from Saadia, Morocco. Welcome to the program. To both of our guests, let's start off with Ms. Charlotte Kates. In Beirut, a vessel belonging to the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, the name of the ship Conscience, carrying aid to Gaza, has come under attack by Israeli drones in international waters near Malta. Share with us your initial reaction to hearing the news that the Gaza Aid Flotilla had come under attack.

Well, this is yet another example of the blatant impunity and the complete disregard for international law, the law of the seas and the laws of humanity. You have an occupation entity that is