Gaza flotilla 'struck by drone' in Tunisia
An activist stands on a sailboat from the Global Sumud Flotilla humanitarian expedition as it prepares to set sail for Gaza at the port of Barcelona, Spain, August 30, 2025.PHOTO: REUTERS
The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) for Gaza said on Tuesday that one of its main boats was attacked by a drone at a port in Tunisia, though all six passengers and crew were safe.
The Portuguese-flagged boat, carrying the flotilla's steering committee, sustained fire damage to its main deck and below-deck storage, the GSF said in a statement.
A video shared by the GSF on X captured the moment "the Family Boat was hit from above," showing a glowing object descending onto the vessel, followed by smoke billowing from the impact.
After the attack, dozens of people gathered outside the Sidi Bou Said port, where the flotilla's boats were located at the time of the incident, waving Palestinian flags and chanting "Free Palestine," a Reuters witness said.
The United Nations' Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, who was 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."
Breaking news;
Here is the security camera footage from the Family vessel of the Sumud Flotilla, stationing just outside Tunis port. So:
1. Sound of something that the crew identified as a drone.
2. Crews sounds the alarm and calls for help.
3. Explosion.
Draw your conclusions. pic.twitter.com/HmkFG7yaEtThe GSF also said an investigation into the drone attack was underway and its results would be released once available.
"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 GSF said.
The Tunisian interior ministry denied the claims of the GSF that a drone had struck the boat, and instead stated that "a fire broke out on the vessel itself."
Breaking the siege
The flotilla is an international initiative seeking to break Israel's naval blockade and deliver humanitarian aid to war-torn Gaza using civilian boats supported by delegations from 44 countries. They also hope to highlight the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. The convoy consists of 20 boats.
Around 150 activists are taking part, including Tunisians, Turkish citizens and campaigners from across Europe, Africa and Asia. The first group set sail from Barcelona on 22 August, followed by another that departed Genoa, Italy, last week.
Read more: Pakistanis, global activists reach Tunisia to sail for Gaza on Sumud Flotilla
Organisers state that the mission aims to highlight the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza on a global scale. Last month, international observers officially declared a famine in northern Gaza, while Israel has maintained a strict blockade on the region since March, allowing only limited humanitarian aid to enter.
Israel sealed off Gaza by land in early March, letting in no supplies for three months and sparking the widespread shortage of food. In June, Israeli naval forces boarded and seized a British-flagged yacht attempting to break the siege, carrying Thunberg, among others.
The conflict has devastated the enclave, with nearly 64,400 Palestinians killed since Israel’s military campaign began in October 2023.