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The organisers claimed the attack was carried out by a drone, though no official source has confirmed the origin of the suspected strike.
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg
The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), an international humanitarian initiative aimed at delivering aid to Gaza, reported on Tuesday that one of its main vessels was struck by a suspected drone while in Tunisian waters. Despite the apparent attack, all six passengers and crew members aboard the vessel were unharmed.
The targeted boat, named The Family and flying a Portuguese flag, sustained fire damage to its main deck and below-deck storage compartments, the flotilla’s organisers said in a statement. The vessel is the flagship of the GSF and was preparing to lead a multi-national flotilla in an effort to break the Israeli maritime blockade on the Gaza Strip.
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According to the GSF, the incident occurred in Tunisian waters. The lead ship is carrying members of the flotilla’s steering committee, which includes German human rights activist Yasemin Acar, Brazilian socio-environmentalist Thiago Ávila, and Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.
The organisers claimed the attack was carried out by a drone, though no official source has confirmed the origin of the suspected strike. Tunisia’s national guard stated that no drone activity had been detected in the region at the time of the incident. However, the GSF directly accused Israel, saying in a statement, “There is no other authority that would do such an attack, such a crime, except the Israeli authorities. They have been committing genocide for the past 22 months, and they are willing to attack a peaceful, non-violent flotilla.”
UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, known for her strong criticism of Israel, was at the port when the incident occurred. She posted on social media that she was working with local authorities and flotilla organisers to investigate the situation. Albanese also shared video footage from a camera onboard the ship, which reportedly captures the sound of explosions or bombardment.
Breaking news;Here is the security camera footage from the Family vessel of the Sumud Flotilla, stationing just outside Tunis port. So:1. Sound of something that the crew identified as a drone.2. Crews sounds the alarm and calls for help.3. Explosion.Draw your conclusions. pic.twitter.com/HmkFG7yaEt
— Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt (@FranceskAlbs) September 8, 2025
The Global Sumud Flotilla is supported by delegations from 44 countries and describes its mission as a non-violent, civilian effort to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza by sea.
Tunis, Tunisia
September 09, 2025, 07:13 IST
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