Aid flotilla vessel hit by suspected drone attack in Tunisia

On September 9, 2025, another incident involving the Global Sumud Flotilla occurred as their vessel, the Alma, sustained fire damage due to a suspected drone strike while docked in Tunisian waters. This incident marks the second attack on the flotilla in a short span of time, raising concerns about the safety and security of humanitarian efforts aimed at delivering aid to Gaza. Earlier, on September 8, the flotilla announced that their main vessel, the Family Boat, had been damaged while anchored near the port of Sidi Bou Said, though Tunisia's national guard attributed the explosion to life jackets rather than an external attack. This contradicting information has led to ongoing debates about the incidents' true nature and the involvement of external forces in the region. Francesca Albanese, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, pointed to videos shared by the flotilla, indicating that the drone attack was carried out by a device with no visible light that exploded on impact, igniting the deck of the Alma. Experts suggest that the device used in the attack may have been an incendiary grenade, raising serious concerns about the methods employed in these assaults on civilian maritime efforts. The flotilla, which includes participants from diverse countries and notable figures such as climate activist Greta Thunberg, is dedicated to challenging Israel's naval blockade and delivering humanitarian support to the people of Gaza. The incidents have triggered an investigation, with authorities trying to determine the full context behind the attacks and if they are part of a wider pattern of aggression targeting aid efforts in the region.