International aid group Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) says one of its vessels, the Family Boat, was hit by a drone at Tunisia’s Sidi Bou Said port—the second alleged strike in two days—and released video on social media showing flames bursting from the deck. All passengers and crew escaped unharmed, and the vessel sustained no structural damage.
The flotilla, carrying humanitarian aid along with activists including Greta Thunberg and Irish actor Liam Cunningham, is seeking to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza using civilian boats.
Newsweek has contacted the GSF, Tunisia’s Foreign Ministry and the Israel Defense Forces for comment.
Why It Matters
The reported attacks highlight mounting tensions around international efforts to challenge Israel’s control over the flow of aid into Gaza. Israel has enforced a blockade since 2007, citing security concerns, while humanitarian agencies warn of worsening famine conditions inside the territory during the ongoing war.
The GSF’s mission recalls earlier high-profile confrontations, including Israel’s deadly raid on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara in 2010 and its June seizure of another aid vessel carrying Thunberg. The latest incidents raise fresh concerns about the risks faced by international activists challenging the blockade.
What to Know
The GSF released a video on Instagram showing a luminous object hitting one of its boats on Wednesday, followed by fire erupting onboard. The footage has not been independently verified. The group’s statement described the incident as a deliberate strike, though it did not assign blame.
On Tuesday, the GSF said another of its ships, the British-flagged Alma, was hit by a drone in Tunisian waters. Tunisia’s Interior Ministry denied those claims, saying there was “no basis in truth” and attributing the blaze to a fire onboard. The group later posted an image of what it described as a “charred electronic device” recovered from the Alma‘s deck, calling it evidence of a targeted attack.
UN Rapporteur’s Assessment
Francesca Albanese, U.N. special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, circulated video of the Alma burning and argued it supported the drone-attack theory. Several ambulances and coast guard vessels were seen rushing to the scene in Tunisia, according to local reports.
Mission Continues
Despite the incidents, the flotilla said it would proceed with its “peaceful voyage.” The GSF, supported by delegations from 44 countries, framed the reported strikes as attempts to derail its mission, but vowed to press forward.
What People Are Saying
Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur: “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.”
Global Sumud Flotilla statement: “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.”
What Happens Next
The flotilla plans to continue sailing toward Gaza despite the risks. Its journey will likely remain under close international scrutiny, testing the limits of Israel’s blockade and the determination of activists challenging it.
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