Tunisian authorities stated that the “assault” on a ship at Sidi Bou Said port in Tunis was “orchestrated,” after the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla reported one of its boats was struck with a drone in the second such strike in two days, according to Reuters.
Second Attack
Over the previous two days, the Global Sumud Flotilla, that is currently on its way to Gaza to break Israel’s naval blockade, reported two drone attacks on key vessels in the convoy.
Organizers and activists described both attacks as deliberate attempts by Israel to disrupt the mission and stop them from delivering humanitarian aids to the Palestinian enclave.
Civil protection teams managed to control the boat fire on Wednesday night, reporting no injuries.
The Tunisian interior Ministry is conducting investigations into the drone attack without accusing any party or country.
“It is an attack against Tunisian sovereignty,” the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese.
First Attack
On Tuesday, Tunisian authorities denied the claim of the aid flotilla that one of the vessels had been “hit by a drone” while anchored near the capital, Tunis, according to BBC.
Tunisia described the claim as “baseless” noting that there was no hostile action or external targeting.
Crucially, the authorities indicated that the initial investigations pointed out that the cause behind the fire is “a fire that broke out in one of the life jackets on board the [vessel], as a result of a lighter or cigarette butt igniting.”
Global Sumud Flotilla
Upon their arrival on Sunday at Sidi Bou Said port, thousand Tunisians welcomed Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and other pro-Palestinian campaigners on board.
“We all know why we are here. Just across the water there’s a genocide going on, a mass starvation by Israel’s murder machine,” said Thunberg.
Organizers described the ship as the largest solidarity mission to date, following two earlier attempts that failed due to Israel’s offensive.
With the goal of reaching Gaza by mid-September, the vessels set off from the Spanish port city of Barcelona to open a humanitarian corridor and end the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people.
“This will be the largest solidarity mission in history, with more people and more boats than all previous attempts combined,” Brazilian activist Thiago Avila told journalists in Barcelona.
European Parliament member Rima Hassan joined crowds at Sidi Bou Said port to greet the Global Sumud Flotilla Mission.
Organizers also noted that over 130 people from various countries have registered to embark on boats from Tunis to join the group before heading to Gaza.
Related Topics:
Gaza Aid Flotilla Targeted in Second Drone Strike at Tunisian Port
Gaza Aid Flotilla Vows to Continue After Alleged Drone Attack
Tunisians Welcome Gaza-Bound Global Sumud Flotilla Arrival
