The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), an international aid initiative to deliver vital supplies to Gaza, reported on Wednesday that a drone attacked one of its boats at a Tunisian port, marking the second such incident in just two days. The aid group, seeking to break Israel’s blockade and deliver crucial humanitarian supplies to Gaza, confirmed that all passengers and crew remained unharmed during the assault.
The GSF had reported the first attack on Tuesday, stating a drone struck one of its vessels in Tunisian waters at the Sidi Bou Said port. Tunisian authorities, however, subsequently called those reports false. A Tunisian Coast Guard spokesperson did not respond on Wednesday to a request for comment from Reuters, as one of the flotilla’s organisers directly accused Israel of carrying out the attack.
“Israel continues to breach international law and terrorize us,” Saif Abukeshek, a member of the GSF steering committee, said. “We will sail to break the blockade on Gaza no matter what they do.” The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The flotilla posted a video of the alleged attack on Instagram, which showed a luminous object hitting the boat and then fire erupting on board.
Escalating Tensions
After the strike, hundreds of people gathered near the port, where the flotilla’s boats were located during the incident, waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans against Israel and the US. The group reported the British-flagged Alma sustained fire damage to its top deck, with an investigation into the cause is currently underway. Furthermore, several ambulances rushed to the port, while witnesses reported Coast Guard boats near the Alma.
Delegations representing 44 countries, including prominent figures like Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and Portuguese politician Mariana Mortagua.
Israel has maintained its naval blockade on the coastal enclave since Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007, saying it needs the blockade to prevent weapons smuggling. Israel has kept the blockade in place throughout the current war, which started in October 2023.
Concerns Over Human Rights Violations
Israel’s war over Gaza has killed over 64,000 Palestinians, with a global hunger monitor saying a part of the enclave now suffers from famine. In early March, Israel sealed off Gaza by land, allowing no supplies for three months, which led to a widespread food shortage. Multiple rights experts and scholars say Israel’s military assault on Gaza constitutes genocide.
In June, Israeli naval forces boarded and seized a British-flagged yacht that carried Thunberg and others, dismissing the aid ship as a propaganda stunt in support of Hamas. “These repeat attacks come during intensified Israeli aggression on Palestinians in Gaza,” the GSF stated. “They constitute an orchestrated attempt to distract and derail our mission. The Global Sumud Flotilla continues undeterred.”
