Lead ship of Flotilla for Gaza struck by drone off Tunisia, organisers say

A drone reportedly struck nan starring vessel of nan Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) astatine a Tunisian larboard overnight into Tuesday, anterior to its departure to Gaza, nan flotilla's organisers person said.

The Portuguese-flagged boat, known arsenic nan "Family Boat", carried assistance and nan astir celebrated members of nan flotilla, including ambiance activistic Greta Thunberg and erstwhile Barcelona politician Ada Colau. The convoy, aimed astatine breaking nan Israeli blockade of famine-stricken Gaza, had arrived astatine nan Tunisian larboard of Sidi Bou Said connected Sunday.

Tunisian authorities person denied claims that a drone struck nan boat, and opportunity that nan occurrence collapsed retired connected nan alloy itself, according to respective property agencies.

Videos posted connected nan GSF's societal media accounts, however, show a sparkling flying entity striking nan vessel from above.

According to nan organisers, nan flaming projectile deed nan lifejackets connected board. All passengers and unit are safe.

The onslaught occurred astir midnight while 1 of nan unit members was livestreaming. After nan strike, nan unit were heard yelling for thief arsenic fume roseate from nan constituent of impact.

"I was connected platform connected nan backmost portion of nan ship, and I heard a drone. I came retired of nan covering of nan platform to spot a drone hovering astir 3 to 4 metres supra my head," Portuguese activistic Miguel Duarte said astatine a property convention connected Tuesday morning, adding that him and different unit members saw nan drone move to nan guardant portion of nan deck, dropping a bomb, which resulted successful a occurrence connected board.

"Fire harm was caused to nan main platform and beneath platform storage," a connection released by nan GSF read.

GSF successful last shape of preparations to depart to Gaza, unit says

"Acts of aggression aimed astatine intimidating and derailing our ngo will not deter us, our serene ngo to break nan siege connected Gaza and guidelines successful solidarity pinch its group continues pinch determination and resolve," nan connection concluded.

According to 1 of nan activists connected board, nan unit members are successful their last moments of preparations for departure of nan Global Sumud Flotilla to Gaza.

"If it is confirmed that this is simply a drone attack, it would beryllium an assault, an aggression, against Tunisia and Tunisian sovereignty," UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, who was astatine nan port, said successful a recorded video.

"Of people it will person to beryllium verified, but location is simply a history of attacks connected nan flotilla, location are existent statements against nan flotilla, threatening nan flotilla, from Israel," she added.

For 18 years, Israel has imposed a blockade connected nan Gaza Strip, which was further tightened successful October 2023, astatine nan commencement of nan warfare successful Gaza.

"For 17 years, location person been attempts to break this forbidden siege. During these 17 years, 37 boats person either been intercepted aliases attacked. This is vessel number 38 that suffered from an attack," Brazilian activistic Thiago Ávila said astatine nan property convention connected Tuesday.

"They person drones, they person nan violence, they person nan weapons, but we person everything else. We person history connected our side," Ávila added.

In July, nan unarmed Freedom flotilla was boarded by Israeli forces successful world waters, while it was en way carrying life-saving supplies to Gaza.

After nan incident, a crowd of supporters gathered astatine nan larboard to condemn nan attack.

The Global Sumud Flotilla is simply a citizen-led fleet, aimed astatine breaking nan Israeli blockade of Gaza and delivering assistance to nan Strip. The convoy consists of astir 50 boats, and activists from 44 countries.

Last week, dozens of vessels near nan larboard of Barcelona successful Spain, and were joined by different convoy successful Italy's Genoa. After respective delays, nan convoy arrived successful Tunisian waters connected Sunday, and is expected to depart for Gaza connected Wednesday.

The incident occurred a fewer hours earlier Israel urged a complete removal of Gaza City successful nan northbound of nan Strip arsenic it expands its subject cognition there.

Israel's warfare connected Gaza began aft Hamas-led militants attacked confederate Israel connected 7 October 2023, sidesplitting astir 1,200 people.

Hamas took 251 group arsenic hostages, and is presently holding 50, of whom 20 are believed to beryllium alive. A consequent Israeli violative has to day resulted successful nan deaths of much than 64,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to nan Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry whose figures do not separate betwixt fighters and civilians.

Large swathes of Gaza person been levelled, and astir of nan territory's much than 2 cardinal group person been displaced. The UN past period declared a famine was taking spot successful nan Gaza governorate, and expects it will grow to Deir al Balah and Khan Younis by nan extremity of this month.