Tunisian authorities have denied early Tuesday the claim of the aid flotilla, that is heading from Spain to Gaza carrying humanitarian aids, that one of the vessels had been “hit by a drone” while anchored near the capital, Tunis, according to BBC.
“Baseless” Claim
Tunisia described the claim as “baseless” noting that there was no hostile action or external targeting.
“Contrary to what is being circulated on some social media pages regarding the presence of a ‘drone’ that targeted this ship, this news is completely baseless,” the Tunisian National Guard said.
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.”
Meanwhile, the Global Sumud Flotilla unveiled that a drone targeted a Spanish ship belonging to it, which was anchored off the port of Sidi Bou Said in Tunisia.
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 were blocked by Israel.
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.
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Tunisians Welcome Gaza-Bound Global Sumud Flotilla Arrival
Mandela’s Grandson Joins Gaza Aid Flotilla to Challenge Israel Blockade
Greta Thunberg Joins Gaza-Bound ‘Sumud’ Flotilla from Spain
