A wave of condemnation from global experts and academics has erupted following a violent attack on the Freedom Flotilla, a humanitarian ship carrying essential food and medicine to Gaza’s starving population.

The assault, which occurred in international waters near Malta, has been labeled a potential war crime, prompting calls for an urgent international investigation.

Dr. Shahd Hammouri of the University of Kent decried the attack, stating, “We live in a time where ships carrying the most advanced weaponry pass freely, and ships carrying urgent humanitarian aid to a starving population burn.” She accused Israel of bombing humanitarian vessels to enforce a policy of starvation against Palestinians as a method of warfare.

Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian Territories, issued an emergency statement on X, saying she received a distressed call from the flotilla’s crew. She urged maritime and state authorities to support the ship and investigate the incident thoroughly.

Itamar Mann, an associate professor at the University of Haifa, suggested the attack, if attributable to Israel, constitutes a violation of the right to life and a war crime. “The location of the attack in international waters proximate to Malta requires urgent investigation and accountability,” Mann said, calling on maritime safety authorities to reassess their relations with Israel due to risks to Mediterranean seafaring.

Lamis Deek, an attorney with the PAL Law Commission, described the attack as a “calculated sinister act of state terrorism” and an assault on Malta, unarmed civilians, and international law. She accused Israel of viewing humanitarian efforts as a threat to its “genocidal project” and called for a global response, including a UN-led investigation, arms embargoes, and protective measures by Malta and other coastal states. “Either Israel is stopped, or the whole world will bleed,” Deek warned.

The Freedom Flotilla, organized to deliver critical supplies to Gaza amid a humanitarian crisis, was reportedly targeted in a deliberate act that experts claim violates the UN Charter, the Geneva Conventions, the Rome Statute, and the Law of the Sea. No casualties have been reported, but the incident has heightened tensions and raised fears for the safety of humanitarian missions in the region.

Calls for action include demands for universal jurisdiction, suspension of treaties, and an end to diplomatic cover for Israel. The international community, including Europe, the African Union, ASEAN, Latin American states, and the Arab world, has been urged to condemn the attack and support the flotilla’s mission.

Authorities have yet to confirm the perpetrator of the attack, but pressure is mounting for a swift and transparent investigation to ensure accountability and prevent further escalation. (ILKHA)