Greta Thunberg's Gaza Flotilla Hit by Drone, Organisers Claim

Organisers of a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying Greta Thunberg and other pro-Palestinian activists have claimed one of their boats was struck by a drone on Monday.

The flotilla, which aims to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, arrived in Tunisia over the weekend and was anchored off the coast of Sidi Bou Said when it reported the incident.

“The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) confirms that one of the main boats... was struck by what is suspected to be a drone,” the organisers said on social media, adding no one was hurt.

They shared security camera footage from the boat in which a humming sound can be heard, before a flash of light illuminates the frame.

The vessel was in Tunisian waters when a fire broke out on board and was quickly extinguished, according to witnesses who arrived shortly after the flames had been doused.

But the cause of the blaze remained in dispute, with Tunisian national guard spokesman Houcem Eddine Jebabli saying “no drones have been detected”.

“According to preliminary findings, a fire broke out in the life jackets on board,” he told AFP news agency, adding the investigation was ongoing.

Reports of a drone are “completely unfounded”, the national guard said in a statement on its official Facebook page, suggesting that the fire may have been caused by a cigarette.

Brazilian activist Thiago Avila posted a video on Instagram featuring testimony from another member of the flotilla who claimed to have seen a drone.

“It was 100 per cent a drone that dropped a bomb,” the member says in the video.

Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, shared the security camera footage and called attention to the sound, explosion and calls for help by the boat’s crew.

“Draw your conclusions,” she wrote on X.

The Global Sumud Flotilla describes itself as an independent group not linked to any government or political party. Sumud means “resilience” in Arabic.

Among its high-profile participants is Ms Thunberg, who addressed pro-Palestinian campaigners in Tunisia on Sunday.

Israel has already blocked two attempts by activists to deliver aid by ship to Gaza, in June and July.

The United Nations declared a state of famine in parts of Gaza, warning that 500,000 people face “catastrophic” conditions.