Just days ago, Malta’s skies lit up with a spectacle of light and unity. The annual fireworks festival dazzled with a powerful display of color and choreography, and for the first time, the island welcomed a breathtaking show of pyrodrones, technology dancing in harmony, sparking dreams of peace and serenity in the hearts of onlookers. It was a symbol of what human ingenuity can achieve when guided by beauty and hope.
And yet, within hours, that very same technology became a symbol of devastation and fear. News broke that the Conscience ship, a humanitarian vessel carrying aid destined for the besieged people of Gaza, was attacked by two drones near Maltese waters. Malta’s Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Ian Borg, confirmed that the crew had been safely evacuated and that the ship remains outside territorial waters. He firmly condemned the aggression, underlining how such acts jeopardize not only lives but also the moral fabric that binds the international community.
As someone who has spent years at sea in search and rescue operations, and as the first civilian to deploy drones for humanitarian surveillance and lifesaving missions in the Mediterranean, I am profoundly disturbed. I have seen firsthand the power of these small machines to extend the eyes and hands of humanity, locating vessels in distress, guiding rescue teams, and saving lives. But when drones are twisted into weapons of war, they become instruments of terror. What we witnessed near Malta was not just an attack on a ship, it was an attack on human dignity.
Even though the crew is now safe, the implications remain grave. A vessel filled with food, medical supplies, and goodwill was deliberately targeted while on a mission of mercy. Such an action is nothing short of a war crime, an assault not just on the people of Gaza, but on all who believe in humanitarian principles. It is an act of war against humanity itself.
It’s in moments like these that we must ask: where is the accountability? Who will stand to defend international law, the rights of civilians, and the sanctity of humanitarian corridors? Silence cannot be our answer. This is a time for moral clarity.
The contrast could not be sharper: one day we celebrate the possibility of peace through beauty and technology; the next, we witness its corruption into destruction and fear. As a nation proud of its maritime history and strategic location in the Mediterranean, Malta has a special role to play. We must lead with conviction, not only by condemning such attacks, but by insisting on accountability, transparency, and above all, the protection of those who risk everything to save lives and deliver aid.
This is not a political issue, it is a human one. As I often say, a motto my family and I first embraced in 2014 when we began our search and rescue missions: “Nobody deserves to die at sea.” We believe this more than ever today. Drones should be used to protect life, not end it. Their purpose must remain anchored in compassion, not violence .
Let us remember that technology is a tool, it reflects the intent of those who control it.
The pyrodrones that danced above our heads this week reminded us of our shared longing for peace.
Let’s not allow that vision to be eclipsed by acts of brutality carried out with the same tools.
As the Mediterranean continues to bear witness to crises, be it migration, conflict, or environmental degradation, Malta must be unwavering in its commitment to humanitarian values.
We owe it to ourselves, to future generations, and to those who continue to dream of peace, even under the shadow of war.
