The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) for Gaza said on Tuesday that one of its boats was struck by a drone while docked at Tunisia’s Sidi Bou Said port, though all six passengers and crew members escaped unharmed. Tunisian authorities, however, denied the claim, saying the vessel caught fire on its own.
The Portuguese-flagged vessel, carrying the flotilla’s steering committee, sustained fire damage to its main and below-deck storage areas, according to a GSF statement. A video posted on X by the group appeared to show a luminous flying object hitting the boat before smoke rose from its deck.
Tunisia’s interior ministry dismissed the allegations, saying “reports of a drone strike have no basis in truth” and attributing the damage to a fire outbreak on the vessel.
The incident drew crowds outside the port, where dozens of demonstrators waved Palestinian flags and chanted “Free Palestine,” a Reuters witness reported.
The flotilla, backed by delegations from 44 countries, aims to break Israel’s long-standing naval blockade on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid. Among its high-profile supporters are Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and Portuguese left-wing politician Mariana Mortágua.
In June, Israeli naval forces seized a British-flagged yacht carrying Thunberg, dismissing the voyage as a “propaganda stunt.”
Israel has enforced the blockade since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, saying it is meant to prevent weapons smuggling. The siege has tightened during the current war, which erupted after Hamas’ October 2023 assault on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and resulted in 250 hostages.
Gaza’s health ministry says Israel’s subsequent military campaign has killed more than 64,000 Palestinians and displaced nearly the entire population, with famine declared in parts of the enclave.
The GSF said an investigation into the Tunisian port incident was underway and vowed to continue its mission. “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,” the group said.
Francesca Albanese, the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, who was present at the port, told Reuters: “We do not know who carried out the attack, but we would not be surprised if it was Israel. If confirmed, it is an attack against Tunisian sovereignty.”
Israel has not issued an immediate comment.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
