Two Vessels Damaged off Tunisia
Organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) said two of their Gaza-bound vessels were struck in separate suspected drone attacks off the coast of Tunisia. The group released footage showing the Portuguese-flagged “Family” boat and the British-flagged “Alma” sustaining fire damage. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew.
Tunisian authorities disputed the claims, stating that early inspection suggested the first explosion originated from inside the vessel and that “no drone” was detected. An investigation is ongoing.
Conflicting Accounts
BBC Verify authenticated footage from both incidents, showing strikes on the flotilla ships near Sidi Bou Said. Experts suggested the angle of the impact indicated the object may have been dropped from above, possibly by a drone. This analysis challenges Tunisia’s denial of drone involvement.
Francesca Albanese, UN Human Rights Council special rapporteur and a Tunis-based resident, said if confirmed, the incidents would represent an assault on Tunisia’s sovereignty. She is in contact with local authorities to establish facts.
Mission and Prior Setbacks
The flotilla, which includes activists such as Greta Thunberg, set sail from Barcelona to deliver aid and protest what it calls Israel’s “illegal siege” of Gaza. In June, Israeli forces detained activists from a similar aid boat and deported them. Israel has dismissed such missions as publicity stunts with little humanitarian value.
Allegations of previous drone attacks have also been reported, including a May incident near Malta. The latest events raise fresh concerns about risks faced by aid missions in contested waters.
Wider Humanitarian Context
The reports come amid growing international alarm over Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. A UN-backed assessment confirmed famine conditions earlier this year, blaming Israel’s blockade for obstructing aid. Israel has denied the findings, insisting aid distribution is manipulated by Hamas.
The Gaza conflict continues, with over 64,000 deaths reported by local health authorities since October 2023. Past flotilla attempts have ended violently, most notably in 2010 when Israeli forces killed 10 people aboard the Mavi Marmara.
