Tunisian authorities have denied claims that a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying Swedish activist Greta Thunberg was hit by a drone.
The Global Sumud Flotilla for Gaza (GSF), comprising 20 boats carrying activists from 44 countries, said on Monday that one of their vessels was hit and caught fire in Tunisian waters.
The Family Boat, which Thunberg is on, carries the Portuguese flag and was reportedly struck by an alleged drone near the port of Sidi Bou Said.
Highlights
- Tunisian authorities denied the claim that Greta Thunberg’s Gaza-bound flotilla was struck by a drone, citing no detected drone activity.
- The Family Boat carrying Thunberg caught fire on Monday, and the organizers suspect it was struck by a drone.
- Activists, including Greta Thunberg, are part of the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying aid to Gaza amid Israel’s ongoing naval blockade.
- UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese hinted Israel could be behind the attack, calling it a potential violation of Tunisian sovereignty.
Tunisian authorities denied the claim that the Gaza-bound flotilla was hit by a drone
Image credits: Mario Wurzburger/Getty Images
The organizers confirmed on social media that “one of the main boats ... was struck by what is suspected to be a drone.” They added that everyone on board was safe after the incident.
Journalist Yusuf Omar, traveling with the flotilla, said on social media that he heard a “big explosion right next to [the] diesel tank.”
“The neighboring boats spotted a drone coming in. They said it flew above basically where I was sleeping, and then it went to the front and detonated,” he added.
Another eyewitness told Seen TV, “I saw a drone dropping a bomb on us ... There was a fire on the front deck that we fought. It is out now. Everybody’s safe.”
Tunisian authorities investigated the incident, and their preliminary findings revealed that “no drones have been detected.”
Houcem Eddine Jebabli, a spokesman for Tunisia’s national guard, told AFP, “A fire broke out in the life jackets on board a ship anchored 50 miles from the port of Sidi Bou.”
Jebabli suggested the fire may have been caused by a cigarette, further saying the claims “have no basis in truth.”
Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, was at the port during the time of the fire.
“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,” Albanese told Reuters.
The flotilla arrived in Tunisia over the weekend, after initially setting out from Barcelona on August 31. The flotilla had faced setbacks due to the weather soon after it sailed from Barcelona. Just hours in, the convoy returned to port after encountering stormy conditions with winds exceeding 30 knots.
The group said safety concerns forced them to delay their journey by two days. The flotilla is carrying aid for Gaza, namely, food, water, and medical supplies.
Activists, including Thunberg, were aboard the ship when the alleged drone hit its deck
Activists described the mission as the largest civilian maritime effort to Gaza during the current conflict.
Thunberg and other high-profile participants, including actor Liam Cunningham and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau, are on board. Hundreds of supporters gathered at Sidi Bou Said to greet the flotilla, waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans.
Israel has maintained a naval blockade of Gaza since 2007, citing security concerns and the need to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas.
The blockade intensified in March when Israel stopped land supplies for three months, claiming that Hamas diverted aid. Israeli forces have previously intercepted two other attempts in June and July by activists to deliver aid by ship into Gaza.
The UN reported in August that parts of Gaza faced famine caused by a “systematic obstruction” of aid. It also declared a state of famine in parts of Gaza, and warned that 500,000 people face “catastrophic” conditions.
The GSF said in a statement that it would conduct its own investigation into the incident.
Image credits: Lorena Sopena/Getty Images
“Our peaceful mission to break the siege on Gaza and stand in solidarity with its people continues with determination and resolve,” they said.
“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,” they added.
Israel has warned it will stop any attempt to breach the blockade. Recent reports also suggest that Israeli authorities plan to treat flotilla activists as supporters of terrorism and plan to detain them, including Thunberg, in prison camps.
The last time their ship was intercepted, activists, but mainly Thunberg, were deprived of sleep, a French doctor who was also aboard the ship had claimed.
Israeli agents would turn up the music and dance if anyone fell asleep. They also had a hard time getting food and water while in custody.