Organisers of a Gaza-bound flotilla said early on Wednesday that one of its boats was hit in a suspected drone attack, with no injuries reported, a day after the group said another of its vessels was struck in Tunisian waters — a claim local authorities rejected.
"Another boat has been hit," read a social media post by the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), an international initiative seeking to break Israel's naval blockade and deliver humanitarian aid to war-torn Gaza using civilian boats supported by delegations from 44 countries.
"Second night, second drone attack," Melanie Schweizer, one of the flotilla's coordinators, told AFP.
Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, posted video of the burning Alma and said it indicated a UAV attack.
"Video evidence suggests a drone — with no light so it could not be seen — dropped a device that set the deck of the Alma boat on fire," she wrote on social media.
The British-flagged Alma was docked in Tunisian waters on Tuesday, when it was "attacked" and "sustained fire damage on its top deck", the GSF said in a statement, adding no one was hurt.
AFP journalists at the scene saw a boat in the distance surrounded by Tunisian law enforcement vessels with flashing lights.
The activists said they would continue their "peaceful voyage" on Wednesday as planned, as the flotilla "presses forward with determination and resolve".
The incident comes a day after the activists said one of their boats was hit by a similar suspected UAV off the coast of Sidi Bou Said, but Tunisian authorities said "no drones" had been detected.
The earlier alleged attack struck a boat carrying the GSF's steering committee, which includes climate activist Greta Thunberg, as well as two Australians and occurred while it was anchored about 80km from the port of Sidi Bou Said in Tunisia.
The GSF said the attack occurred while the vessel was anchored about 80km from the port of Sidi Bou Said in Tunisia. Source: AAP / EPA / Mohamed Messara
They shared security camera footage from the boat in which a humming sound can be heard, before a flash of light illuminates the frame.
Another video shared on the GSF's social media pages shows crew members looking up and jumping back before a flash of light and sound of an explosion is heard.
But Tunisian authorities have disputed the allegation and say the explosion originated inside the boat.
"According to preliminary findings, a fire broke out in the life jackets on board," Tunisian national guard spokesman Houcem Eddine Jebabli told Agence France-Presse.
He said the investigation was ongoing, but "no drones" had been detected.
Reports of a drone are "completely unfounded", the national guard said in a statement on its official Facebook page, suggesting that the fire may have been caused by a cigarette.
Pro-Palestinian supporters in Tunisia gathered to protest the alleged attack. Source: AAP / EPA / Mohamed Messara
"There is no other authority that would do such an attack, such a crime, except the Israeli authorities," he said in a video posted on the GSF's Instagram page.
The Israeli military did not respond to AFP's request for comment on Tuesday. SBS News has also contacted the Israel Defense Forces for comment.
The boat was carrying Australians Dr Bianca Webb-Pullman and Yusuf Omar. A statement from the families of Australians involved in the flotilla said: "While not physically injured, the traumatisation of a drone attack causing fire on a boat at sea is both serious, and illegal"
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) said it was "aware of an alleged drone attack" on the vessel.
"We stand ready to offer consular assistance, to any Australian citizen, should it be requested," a DFAT spokesperson said in a statement.
After the alleged strike, dozens of people gathered outside the Sidi Bou Said port, where the flotilla's boats were located at the time of the incident, waving Palestinian flags and chanting "Free Palestine", a Reuters witness said.
Israel has imposed a naval blockade on the coastal enclave since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, saying it aims to stop weapons from reaching the militant group.
The blockade has remained in place through the current war, which began when Hamas attacked southern Israel in October 2023, killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel's subsequent military assault against Hamas has killed over 64,000 Palestinians, Gaza's health ministry said, while a global hunger monitor said part of the enclave is suffering from famine.
Israel sealed off Gaza by land in early March, letting in no supplies for three months and sparking the widespread shortage of food. It has accused Hamas of stealing aid for its own fighters or to sell to finance its operations, an accusation Hamas denies.
In June, Israeli naval forces boarded and seized a British-flagged yacht carrying Thunberg, among others. Israel dismissed the aid ship as a propaganda stunt in support of Hamas.
And in July, another boat carrying 21 activists, including two Australians — Tan Safi and Robert Martin — was intercepted by Israeli forces. They were detained and deported.
— With additional reporting by the Agence France-Presse and Reuters news agencies.
