A Gaza-bound ship from the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) caught fire late on Monday at Sidi Bou Said port in Tunisia, but all six passengers and crew on board were unharmed.

The flotilla, which is part of an international effort to break Israel’s naval blockade and deliver aid to Gaza, said the incident was caused by a drone strike.

The Portuguese-flagged ship, carrying the flotilla’s steering committee, sustained fire damage on its main deck and lower storage areas.

Videos posted by the GSF show a bright object hitting the vessel from above, followed by smoke and flames. One crew member reported seeing a drone hovering a few meters above the ship before it dropped an explosive device, which caused a large explosion and fire.

The flotilla spokesperson blamed Israel for the attack, saying it has a history of targeting ships headed to Gaza. They added that the mission to deliver aid and break the blockade will go on despite the incident.

However, Tunisia’s National Guard and interior ministry denied that a drone was involved. They said initial investigations indicate the fire started in a life jacket, possibly caused by a cigarette butt or lighter, and stated there was no evidence of an external attack.

The GSF comprises over 50 boats from 44 countries, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and Portuguese politician Mariana Mortagua, aiming to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza, which is suffering from war and famine.

The flotilla said it would release the results of its investigation once available.

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, who was at the port, said that if the fire was caused by a drone, it would be an attack on Tunisia’s sovereignty. She also pointed to Israel’s history of targeting Gaza-bound vessels and warned that such actions should not be normalised.

After the fire, dozens of people gathered outside Sidi Bou Said port, waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans in support of Gaza.

Israel has enforced a naval blockade on Gaza since 2007, saying it is to stop weapons from reaching Hamas. The blockade remains during the current war, which began in October 2023 when Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures.

Israel’s military response has since killed more than 64,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, and parts of Gaza are now facing famine due to a lack of food and supplies.

In June, Israeli forces intercepted a yacht sailing under the British flag with Greta Thunberg among those onboard, dismissing the aid mission as a propaganda effort supporting Hamas.

Despite such setbacks, the flotilla’s mission continues, aiming to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Reference: GSF

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