Tunisian officials deny drone attack on Gaza aid flotilla
- Tunisian officials declared that the claims of a drone striking the humanitarian flotilla are baseless.
- The Global Sumud Flotilla reported damage to one of its vessels but confirmed that no injuries occurred.
- The activist group is determined to continue its mission to provide aid to Gaza despite the alleged drone attack.
On Tuesday, Tunisian officials denied an activist organization's allegations that a drone had bombed a humanitarian flotilla delivering aid to Gaza. The Tunisian Interior Ministry issued a statement asserting that claims regarding a drone strike on a boat docked at Sidi Bou Said port were unfounded and emphasized that they were investigating a fire incident that occurred on the vessel. The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), the activist group involved, had earlier stated that one of its main boats, sailing under the Portuguese flag, was struck by a drone, which reportedly caused damage to both its deck and below-deck storage, although no injuries were reported. The organization shared footage on its social media platforms showing what appeared to be a flash of light landing on one of the boats, which subsequently ignited a fire. Despite these claims, Tunisian authorities maintained that there was no truth to reports of a drone strike. GSF, in response, declared their commitment to their mission of delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza and resisting what they framed as acts of aggression meant to intimidate them. The flotilla consists of numerous boats from 44 countries, carrying essential supplies like food, water, and medicine intended for the civilians in Gaza. Notably, the flotilla has attracted attention, with prominent figures such as Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg being associated with the group. During a press conference held later in Tunis, attendees displayed Palestinian flags and banners, showing solidarity with the people of Gaza. Portuguese activist Miguel Duarte, present on the affected vessel, recounted witnessing a drone hovering dangerously close, asserting that it released a bomb which exploded, causing a significant fire onboard. Thankfully, he noted, they had fire extinguishers at hand, allowing them to manage and control the flames without casualties. This incident occurs against the backdrop of Israel's ongoing naval blockade on Gaza, instituted in 2007 in response to Hamas's control of the region, which Israel argues is crucial to preventing the smuggling of weapons.