Tunisia Refutes Claims of Drone Attack on Greta Thunberg's Gaza Flotilla

Thu Oct 23 2025 15:57:51 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Tunisian authorities have denied allegations that a Gaza-bound flotilla vessel, carrying aid activists including Greta Thunberg, was attacked by a drone. The incident sparked questions regarding safety and the ongoing tensions in the region.

Tunisia's national guard has dismissed claims of a drone strike on a vessel of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was reportedly attacked while moored off the coast. The flotilla, aimed at delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza, arrived from Barcelona, with activists expressing concerns over the reported drone attack. However, the Tunisian authorities assert that no drones were detected and investigations are ongoing. This incident intensifies the scrutiny on international humanitarian efforts amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Tunisia Refutes Claims of Drone Attack on Greta Thunberg's Gaza Flotilla

Tunisian authorities have denied claims that one of the Gaza-bound vessels carrying aid and pro-Palestinian activists, including Greta Thunberg, was attacked by a drone.

The organizers of the flotilla, Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), reported that their Portuguese-flagged vessel was struck while anchored outside the port of Sidi Bou Said in Tunisia, but confirmed that all six passengers and crew were safe.

A spokesperson for Tunisia's national guard told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that no drone had been detected, and an investigation is currently ongoing.

The humanitarian aid flotilla had departed from Barcelona recently, arriving in Tunisia on Sunday.

The GSF maintained that their Family boat was hit in Tunisian waters, resulting in damage to the main deck. In videos shared, spokespeople contended that an incendiary device ignited a fire onboard, which the crew managed to control.

Tunisia's National Guard spokesman firmly asserted to Mosaique FM that there were no factual grounds for the reports regarding a drone attack and emphasized that initial inspections suggested the explosion stemmed from inside the vessel.

Francesca Albanese, a UN Human Rights Council special rapporteur and a Tunisian resident who featured in GSF’s videos, linked the situation to a potential assault on Tunisian sovereignty if such an attack were verified. She shared her efforts to verify the incident with local authorities via social media.

Albanese, known for her criticisms of Israel's military operations in Gaza, has faced U.S. sanctions, which Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has lauded as a decisive measure against purported misinformation regarding Israel.

The flotilla's mission aims to challenge what they describe as an illegal Israeli siege on Gaza—previous attempts to deliver aid have encountered significant obstacles. In June, Israeli forces intercepted a vessel carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza and detained the activists onboard, including Thunberg.

Organizers assert that these maritime endeavors are critical to delivering much-needed aid, despite facing challenges and accusations from Israeli authorities, who label such actions as ineffective publicity stunts.

This incident comes in a backdrop of heightened tensions, with accusations of drone attacks on aid vessels becoming a frequent occurrence. The Freedom Flotilla previously alleged a similar incident involving its ship off Malta.

In recent months, humanitarian crises, including famine in Gaza, have been exacerbated according to UN reports, which Israel contests, asserting they are false narratives.

As international scrutiny intensifies on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, both political leaders and activists continue to grapple with the complexities of delivering aid in such a fraught environment.