Tunisia Refutes Claims of Drone Attack on Greta Thunberg's Gaza Flotilla

Mon Oct 20 2025 00:04:47 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Tunisian authorities have denied allegations that a vessel carrying aid and activists, including Greta Thunberg, was struck by a drone while anchored near Sidi Bou Said.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, which includes climate activist Greta Thunberg, reported that one of its vessels was attacked by a drone in Tunisian waters. However, Tunisian officials have claimed that no drone was detected and investigations continue. The incident highlights ongoing tensions in humanitarian aid missions to Gaza amid the ongoing conflict.

Tunisian authorities have denied claims that one of the Gaza-bound vessels carrying aid and pro-Palestinian activists including Greta Thunberg was attacked by a drone.

The organisers of the flotilla, Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), said that the Portuguese-flagged vessel had been struck by a drone while anchored outside the port of Sidi Bou Said in Tunisia. All six passengers and crew were safe, they added.

A spokesperson for Tunisia's national guard told the Agence France-Presse news agency that no drone had been detected and the investigation was ongoing.

The humanitarian aid flotilla set sail from Barcelona last week and arrived in Tunisia on Sunday.

The GSF said their Family boat was struck in Tunisian waters, and fire had damaged the main deck.

In a series of videos published to their Instagram, spokespeople for the GSF said an incendiary device caused a fire onboard the vessel, which the crew was able to extinguish.

However, Tunisia's National Guard spokesman stated that reports of a drone attack on the flotilla have no basis in truth. He added that an initial inspection indicated the explosion originated inside the vessel.

UN Human Rights Council special rapporteur and Tunisian resident Francesca Albanese, featured in videos shared by the GSF, stated that if an attack could be verified, it would represent an assault and aggression against Tunisia, and Tunisian sovereignty. She is working with local authorities to clarify the situation.

The flotilla aims to break Israel's illegal siege on Gaza but has faced significant challenges. Previous attempts, including an incident in June where Israeli forces boarded a boat carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, have led to deportations of activists, including Thunberg.

Israeli authorities have labeled the flotilla attempts as mere publicity stunts. Reports of prior drone attacks on aid ships, including an incident involving the Freedom Flotilla in May, add to the complexity surrounding these missions.

Current conditions in Gaza highlight a grave humanitarian crisis, with a UN-backed report confirming famine in the region, a situation disputed by Israeli authorities.

This incident underscores the delicate balance between humanitarian efforts and geopolitical tensions in the ongoing conflict surrounding Gaza.