Tunisia Denies Drone Strike on Freedom Flotilla Ship
The Tunisian Ministry of Interior on Tuesday rejected reports that a vessel belonging to the Freedom Flotilla, an international initiative aimed at breaking the blockade of Gaza, had been targeted by a drone in the port of Sidi Bou Said. Authorities explained that the incident was in fact a fire that broke out on board the ship, which was quickly contained without causing any human casualties or material damage, except for several life jackets that were burned.
Earlier that day, flotilla organizers claimed that one of their main vessels, sailing under the Portuguese flag and carrying the steering committee, had been struck by a drone in Tunisian waters, leading to a fire on the main deck and the storage area beneath it. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
The flotilla, backed by delegations from 44 countries, seeks to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza through civilian boats. Supporters include Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and Portuguese leftist politician Mariana Mortágua.
A video released by the flotilla on the X platform shows the moment the ship The Family was allegedly “attacked from above,” with a glowing object colliding with the vessel, followed shortly afterward by smoke rising from the deck. A witness reported that dozens of people gathered outside the port of Sidi Bou Said following the incident, waving Palestinian flags and chanting “Free Palestine.”
Israel has imposed a naval blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2007, when Hamas took control of the coastal enclave, arguing that the measure is necessary to prevent weapons from reaching the movement. The blockade has continued throughout the current war, which began after Hamas attacked southern Israel in October 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Gaza’s Health Ministry says that Israel’s subsequent offensive has killed more than 64,000 Palestinians, while a global hunger observatory has reported famine conditions in parts of the territory.
In early March, Israel also imposed a strict land blockade on Gaza, blocking the entry of supplies for three months, citing alleged diversions of aid by Hamas. In June, Israeli naval forces intercepted a British-flagged yacht carrying Greta Thunberg and others, describing the humanitarian vessel as a propaganda stunt in support of Hamas.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition announced that an investigation into the alleged drone attack was underway and that the findings would be made public once available. It added that “acts of intimidation and obstruction” would not deter its peaceful mission to break the blockade of Gaza and show solidarity with its people.
Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, who was present at the port during the incident, stated: “We do not know who carried out the attack, but we would not be surprised if Israel were responsible. If confirmed, this would amount to an attack on Tunisian sovereignty.”
