The international aid initiative Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) says one of its boats was struck by a drone at Tunisia’s Sidi Bou Said port, marking the second such reported incident in as many days.
In a statement released early Wednesday, the GSF said that all passengers and crew were unharmed and that no structural damage had been caused. The flotilla, which is attempting to break Israel’s naval blockade and deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, includes civilian boats carrying activists such as Greta Thunberg.
On Instagram, the group posted a video of the alleged strike, showing a luminous object hitting the boat followed by a burst of flames. The footage has not yet been independently verified.
Disputed First Attack
The reported strike comes a day after GSF claimed one of its vessels had also been targeted by a drone in Tunisian waters. Tunisia’s interior ministry, however, dismissed those claims, stating the reports had “no basis in truth” and that the fire on Tuesday was caused onboard the vessel itself.
According to the group, the British-flagged Alma sustained fire damage to its top deck and is now under investigation. It later released an image of what it described as a “charred electronic device” recovered from the deck.
“While a full investigation is ongoing, the presence of such a device provides further indication that the boat was deliberately targeted,” the GSF said.
Witness Accounts and UN Comment
Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, posted a video of the burning Alma on social media, writing: “Video evidence suggests a drone – with no light so it could not be seen – dropped a device that set the deck of the Alma boat on fire.”
A Reuters witness reported seeing coastguard boats near the Alma, while several ambulances were dispatched to the port following the incident.
Activists Vow to Continue
Despite the alleged strikes, activists aboard the flotilla said they would continue their mission.
“The Global Sumud Flotilla continues undeterred. Our peaceful voyage to break Israel’s illegal siege on Gaza and stand in unwavering solidarity with its people presses forward with determination and resolve,” the group declared.
The flotilla is supported by delegations from 44 countries, including Thunberg and Portuguese left-wing politician Mariana Mortagua.
Israel’s Gaza Blockade
Israel has maintained a naval blockade on Gaza since 2007, when Hamas seized control of the territory. It argues that the blockade is necessary to prevent weapons smuggling. However, restrictions on food and humanitarian aid have intensified during the current war, with global monitors warning that parts of Gaza are facing famine.
In June, Israeli naval forces boarded and seized a British-flagged yacht carrying Thunberg and others. The blockade has previously led to deadly confrontations, including in 2010 when Israeli forces killed nine Turkish activists during a raid on the Mavi Marmara, a vessel attempting to break the siege.
While GSF did not directly attribute responsibility for the latest incidents, the group condemned them as an “orchestrated attempt to distract and derail our mission.”
