Gaza-bound 'Conscience' Ship Collides with Other Vessels in Fleet, But Continues Toward Gaza

The "Conscience" ship, part of the international Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) and the Thousand Madlids to Gaza (TMTG) mission, collided with eight other ships in its fleet due to its higher speed. The incident occurred as the ships were heading toward Gaza, where they aim to break the blockade and deliver aid.

Following the collision, the speed of the "Conscience" vessel has been reduced to allow the entire fleet to proceed together.

Shahidul Alam, the Managing Director of Drik and a renowned photographer who is aboard the "Conscience," shared the news on his Facebook page on Saturday. Alam stated that the vessel's speed was initially faster than the rest, allowing it to catch up with and bump into the eight ships that had departed earlier. However, after the collision, the speed was reduced, and now all vessels are heading toward Gaza as a unified fleet.

The "Conscience" ship is described as the largest among the fleet and departed from Italy on September 30. Although it was the last to leave, it is now moving together with the rest of the ships, including two smaller boats whose current positions remain uncertain.

The mission is a part of the broader global effort to break Israel's blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to the region. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) and Thousand Madlids to Gaza (TMTG) are working together to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza, but the mission does not carry food supplies.

In his Facebook post, Shahidul Alam described the Thousand Madlids concept as unforgettable, noting that the world's leaders have remained inactive or hypocritical in the face of ethnic genocide, prompting people to take action themselves. "The idea of thousands of ships is symbolic," Alam said, adding, "However, this is undoubtedly the largest gathering of seafaring vessels of its kind."

Alam also expressed their determination to break the blockade, stating, "If they stop us, others will continue. Oppressors have never prevailed against the power of the people. Israel will also fail. Palestine will be free."

According to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition's website, the "Conscience" vessel is carrying journalists and health workers from 25 different countries. The mission, which began last Wednesday, aims to challenge Israel's illegal blockade and defend press freedom, as Israeli authorities have blocked foreign journalists from entering Gaza for the past two years. During this period, the Israeli military has targeted Palestinian journalists. Since October 2023, more than 270 journalists have been killed, with many others detained or imprisoned.

The mission is set to continue its journey toward Gaza despite ongoing risks and threats of interception by Israeli forces.