Activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla alleged one of their ships was hit by a drone in Tunisia, but Tunisian officials say no drone activity was detected and the damage likely came from a technical fault.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, a convoy of 20 vessels aiming to breach Israel’s blockade of Gaza, claimed early Tuesday that one of its ships was struck by a drone attack while docked at Sidi Bou Said port in Tunisia, according to Reuters.
Flotilla members reported all passengers and crew were safe. However, the Tunisian National Guard swiftly disputed the claim.
“No drone activity was detected in the airspace over the port,” a spokesperson said, adding that initial investigations suggest a vessel malfunction rather than an external strike.
The alleged incident comes as the flotilla — which set sail from Barcelona last Monday and arrived in Tunisia on Sunday — faces delays. Organizers postponed their departure from Tunis to Gaza until Wednesday, citing “technical and logistical reasons beyond management’s control.”
🌍 Who’s on Board?
The flotilla has drawn high-profile activists and celebrities, including:
- Greta Thunberg, the Swedish climate activist, previously deported from Israel in June after joining the Madleen flotilla.
- Ada Colau, former mayor of Barcelona, who cut her city’s ties with Israel.
- Hollywood figures like Susan Sarandon and Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones).
Israel has dismissed such flotillas in the past as propaganda stunts with minimal humanitarian aid. When the Madleen was intercepted earlier this year, the IDF provided activists with food and water before deportation. The so-called “aid cargo” amounted to less than a single truckload, later delivered to Gaza through official humanitarian channels.
As the Sumud flotilla prepares its next leg, the conflicting accounts — drone strike or technical malfunction — highlight both the fragility of the mission and the propaganda battles surrounding it.
