Gaza Aid Ship Fire: Activists Claim Drone Attack Off Tunisia

Humanitarian Vessel Targeted in Mediterranean Incident

A humanitarian aid ship bound for Gaza caught fire while anchored off the coast of Tunisia near the capital Tunis. The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), organizers of the aid convoy, allege the vessel was struck by a drone attack in what appears to be the latest escalation in maritime tensions surrounding Gaza aid efforts.

Contradictory Accounts Emerge

Footage released by GSF shows what appears to be an object falling from the sky and striking the ship, followed by a fireball. We know not who carried out the attack, but it would not surprise us if it was Israel, stated Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories. If confirmed, this constitutes a violation of Tunisian sovereignty.

Tunisian authorities have denied the drone attack claims. The Interior Ministry asserted the fire originated onboard, suggesting a life vest caught fire. The six passengers and crew members escaped unharmed, and the crew managed to extinguish the blaze.

Thunberg Involvement and Political Context

Climate activist Greta Thunberg was scheduled to join this vessel but was reportedly not onboard during the incident. The ship, part of a larger convoy from Barcelona, carried humanitarian supplies intended for Gaza's starving population amid what international organizations describe as a severe humanitarian crisis.

This marks the second such incident in recent months. In May 2025, another Gaza-bound aid ship caught fire near Malta under similar circumstances, with organizers also blaming a drone attack.

Israel maintains a naval blockade of Gaza, citing security concerns about weapons smuggling. In June 2025, Israeli forces intercepted a previous flotilla from the same organization, detaining activists including Thunberg and French MEP Rima Hassan. Israel condemned that attempt as a propaganda stunt.

The latest incident occurs against the backdrop of intensified Israeli restrictions on aid entering Gaza since October 2023, with humanitarian organizations warning of famine conditions. According to Wikipedia records, previous flotilla attempts have consistently been intercepted by Israeli forces since 2010.