Greta Thunberg claims her Gaza bound boat on fire after drone attack, Tunisia denies

The Global Sumud Flotilla’s boat carrying Greta Thunberg and activists from 44 countries enroute to deliver aid to Gaza was allegedly attacked by a drone off the coast of Tunisia. The boat carrying food, water and medicine suffered fire damage. All passengers and crew aboard were reportedly unharmed.

The Portuguese-flagged vessel was part of the flotilla’s steering committee. According to the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), an explosive device was dropped, causing a fire on the main deck and below-deck storage. The crew quickly put out the flames and reported that all aboard were safe. Videos released on social media captured the moment the fire broke out following the suspected attack.

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“The Global Sumud Flotilla confirms that one of the main boats, known as the ‘Family Boat’ – that was carrying GSF Steering Committee members – was struck by what is suspected to be a drone,” a GSF social media statement read.

The flotilla of around 20 boats, is a joint, peaceful mission aiming to break the Israeli naval blockade on Gaza to bring much-needed humanitarian supplies to the war-torn region. Greta Thunberg has been one of the prominent faces of this activism, having previously been deported from Israel during an earlier attempt to reach Gaza by sea.

The flotilla left Barcelona last week and is expected to reach its destination by mid-September.

Tunisia denies claims

Tunisia’s National Guard quickly responded to the claim of a drone strike by denying the attack. A spokesperson informed Mosaique FM radio that there was “no basis in truth” for the drone attack allegations, Reuters reported.

Preliminary investigations suggested the fire originated internally, rather than from an external attack. The investigation into the exact cause of the fire remains ongoing.

Israel has maintained a naval blockade of the Gaza Strip since 2007, aiming to prevent the entry of arms to the militant group Hamas. The blockade has been condemned by some international groups as contributing to a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The flotilla’s mission is aligned with global efforts to challenge this blockade and provide aid to the inhabitants of Gaza.

Israeli officials have labeled past flotilla attempts as propaganda and have warned activists attempting to breach the blockade that they face arrest. Meanwhile, the Global Sumud Flotilla insists on the peaceful nature of its mission and vows to continue despite acts of aggression aimed at deterring its goals.

FAQs

Q: Was Greta Thunberg injured in the drone strike?
No, all six passengers and crew aboard the suspected-affected vessel, including Greta Thunberg, were reported safe following the fire.

Q: Did Tunisia confirm the drone attack?
No, Tunisia’s National Guard denied the drone attack claims and suggested the fire was caused by an internal incident on the boat.

Q: What is the goal of the Global Sumud Flotilla?
The flotilla aims to break the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza to deliver essential humanitarian aid such as food, water, and medical supplies to the region.

Q: What has been Israel’s stance on flotilla efforts?
Israel maintains the blockade for security reasons and considers flotilla attempts as illegal and potentially supportive of Hamas, warning activists of possible arrests.