A Gaza-bound flotilla carrying humanitarian aid and Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg reported a dramatic scare this week after what organizers described as a suspected drone strike caused a fire on one of its vessels off the Tunisian coast.
The Global Sumud Flotilla for Gaza, a coalition of about 20 ships carrying activists from 44 countries, set out in late August to challenge Israel’s long-standing naval blockade of Gaza. The Portuguese-flagged ship that was hit, carrying the flotilla’s steering committee, sustained fire damage to its main deck and storage areas. “We confirm that one of the main boats was struck by what is suspected to be a drone,” organizers said in a statement. No injuries were reported.
Witnesses described the incident in harrowing detail. “I was sleeping when I heard this explosion. A big blast happened right next to our diesel tank,” journalist Yusuf Omar said on Instagram. “The neighboring boats spotted a drone coming in… then it went to the front and detonated.” Another activist told Seen TV that they saw “a drone dropping a bomb on us” before the fire broke out on deck.
Tunisian authorities, however, rejected the drone strike account. Authorities believe the fire was accidental, emphasizing that “no drones have been detected” in the area. “According to preliminary findings, a fire broke out in the life jackets on board a ship anchored 50 miles from the port of Sidi Bou Said,” a national guard spokesperson told AFP.
After the incident, dozens gathered outside the Tunisian port waving Palestinian flags and chanting “Free Palestine,” underscoring the symbolic weight the ships carry.
The flotilla, which left Barcelona on August 31, is carrying food, water, and medicine, supplies that humanitarian groups say are desperately needed in Gaza, where a UN-backed body recently confirmed famine as a direct result of Israel’s restrictions on aid.
Israel, which has maintained a naval blockade of Gaza since Hamas took control of the strip in 2007. Its forces are expected to intercept the flotilla before it can reach Gaza. In June, Israeli naval units seized a British-flagged yacht carrying Thunberg, dismissing that earlier attempt as a propaganda stunt. Reports in the Israeli press this week suggested national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is preparing plans to seize the flotilla and arrest Thunberg if it nears Gaza.
Thunberg, undeterred, reiterated her support for the mission at port. “Just across the water, there’s a genocide going on, a mass starvation by Israel’s murder machine,” she said. Organizers stated: “Acts of aggression aimed at intimidating and derailing our mission will not deter us. Our peaceful mission to break the siege on Gaza and stand in solidarity with its people continues with determination and resolve.”
