Greta Thunberg's Gaza-bound flotilla ‘set on fire’ following drone attack, crew say
The ‘Family Boat’ carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists in a humanitarian flotilla bound for Gaza has been “struck by what is suspected to be a drone,” the crew said.
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The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), which is running the initiative to deliver food, water, and medicine to Gaza and break Israel’s siege on the territory, said all passengers and crew members are safe.
It said the boat was struck by what appeared to be a drone and caught on fire. Passengers and crew were able to extinguish the fire shortly after it started.
The so-called ‘family boat’ carried GSF leadership, including Swedish climate activist Thunberg. The convoy is carrying hundreds of pro-Palestine activists, and left Barcelona at the start of the month.
“Acts of aggression aimed at intimidating and derailing our mission will not deter us,” the GSF said.
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“Our peaceful mission to break the siege on Gaza and stand in solidarity with its people continues with determination and resolve.”
News of the alleged attack was initially shared by Yasemin Acar, one of the crew members on the boat.
“The family boat has been officially attacked,” she said in a video on Instagram. “A drone came right above it, released a bomb and it exploded and the boat was on fire. Everyone on that boat is ok. The fire is out.”
“They have bombed a boat once again, with civilians on it, in Tunisian territory. This is an attack against Gaza because they don’t want us there,” she added.
In June, Israel arrested Thunberg and other activists on board the Madleen ship, and has vowed to arrest those on board the Sumud flotilla too.
In another Instagram video, Acar said: “We have detected the first drones...From what we can tell and the information we are getting, every boat right now in the flotilla has a drone above them.”
“We are watching them very closely trying to figure out which drones they are and what they are here for,” she added.
A video posted by the GSF showed the moment the boat was struck by what is understood to be a drone, showing a bright flash of light followed by smoke.
The maritime convoy of about 20 boats and delegations from 44 countries is claimed to be the largest attempt to date to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip by sea, which has lasted 18 years.
Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, has called for ‘urgent protection’ for the other boats in the flotilla.
“Main Flotilla boat (Family) attacked apparently by a drone in Tunis port. Other 2 boats are on the way to Tunis and they need urgent protection,” she wrote on X.
Ms Albanese, who lives in Tunisia, said "I happen to be here as an independent expert as I live six minutes from here, and what I found here is a lot of shock".
In a video on Instagram, she that there will have to be verification on who carried out the attack, and whether it was a drone.
"But there is a history of attacks on the flotilla, there are current statements against the flotilla, threatening the flotilla, from Israel, and there are no other states protecting this boat other than Tunisia," she added.
Activists on board have demanded safe passage to deliver the much-needed aid and the opening of a humanitarian sea corridor, according to a statement.
Earlier, thousands of supporters flocked to the Barcelona pier, chanting "Free Palestine" and "Boycott Israel" to send off a variety of boats, from rundown old luxury yachts to tiny wooden sailing boats and industrial-looking vessels.
"The story here is about Palestine,” Ms Thunberg said at a news conference. “The story here is how people are being deliberately deprived of the very basic means to survive.”
She is one of the most recognisable figures on the expedition, formed by hundreds of activists, politicians such as the former mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, and journalists.
