Early this morning, the Sumud flotilla reported that its flagship, the Family—carrying members of its steering committee—was hit in what they suspect is an Israeli drone strike off the coast of Tunisia. Tunisian authorities, however, claimed the incident stemmed from an internal malfunction.
In a statement, the International Committee for Breaking the Siege of Gaza, organizing the Global Sumud Flotilla, said the Family vessel was sailing under a Portuguese flag and confirmed that all passengers and crew were unharmed. “An investigation is under way and more information will be shared once available,” the statement read.
“Acts of aggression meant to intimidate us will not derail our mission. Our peaceful effort to break Gaza’s blockade and stand in solidarity with its people will continue with unwavering determination,” organizers added.
Tiago Ávila, a member of the flotilla’s steering committee, declared, “The boat ‘Family’ was targeted by an incendiary drone near Tunisia’s shores. Some of our team members were on board, but none of them were hurt.”
The flotilla’s media office released a video it said captured the moment the boat was struck near Sidi Bou Said. “It was a drone carrying a bomb,” an activist onboard the Family who witnessed the attack said, “it dropped the bomb on a pile of life jackets,” he explained.
Spokesperson Saif Abu Kishk told Al Jazeera the mission would keep sailing in defiance of the attack. No party, including the Israeli occupation army, has claimed responsibility.
https://x.com/ICBSOFGAZA/status/1965255733420982375
According to Al Jazeera, Tunisian police managed to control and extinguish the fire, confirming there were no injuries. A spokesperson for Tunisia’s National Guard insisted the blaze was caused by an internal malfunction, citing an ignited life vest.
The nascent Egyptian branch of the Sumud flotilla condemned what it identified as a “Zionist crime” and “cowardly escalation against a humanitarian movement.” It described the incident as a military assault on an Arab country not at war with Israel and “an attempt to crush an effort to break the siege of Gaza and resist starvation and genocide against the Palestinian people.”
The Global Sumud Flotilla set sail from Barcelona last Tuesday with more than 300 activists. Besides the Tunisian coast, the Sumud flotilla expected to be joined by additional boats in Italy and Greece along the journey.
Its mission is to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, break the blockade, and draw international attention to the humanitarian catastrophe facing Palestinians, according to the ICBGC.
Earlier this month, Israel’s national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has presented a plan to intercept the flotilla, describing it as a threat to Israel’s sovereignty and national security. Under his proposal, activists would be detained in Ketziot and Damon prisons under the harsh conditions normally applied to Palestinian detainees.
The flotilla continues a long line of international solidarity missions. In 2010, Israeli occupation forces stormed the Mavi Marmara, killing 10 activists. More recently, Israeli drones attacked the Conscience ship near Malta in May, and Israeli forces intercepted the Madleen and Handala ships in June, detaining and deporting those on board.
