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Sep 10, 2025  |  
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NextImg:Gaza activists claim second boat in flotilla attacked by drone

The pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel activist flotilla seeking to break the Gaza blockade claimed Wednesday it was attacked for a second night in a row and that a drone targeted one of its boats that was docked in Tunisian waters. No one was harmed.

However, there was doubt as to whether there was even a first attack — Tunisian authorities claimed that the first explosion originated inside the vessel, and Tunisia’s National Guard spokesperson told Mosaique FM radio that reports of a drone attack on the flotilla “have no basis in truth.”

On Wednesday, the Global Sumud Flotilla shared CCTV footage showing people on board the group’s British-flagged Alma shouting “fire” and pointing to the sky. Projectiles appeared to fall on the deck, exploding and setting off a blaze.

“A drone came and dropped another incendiary device,” claimed Thiago Ávila, a Brazilian activist and flotilla spokesperson.

The group also posted a photo of a charred object covered in melted plastic, which they said was dropped by the drone, causing the fire.

“Fortunately, it was contained with no structural damage to our boat, with no wounds to our team and we continue our mission to break the siege of Gaza,” Ávila added.

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The alleged attack appeared similar to the incident the night before on the Portuguese-flagged Family vessel.

Both the Alma and Family were the motherships of the mission, providing support and provisions to smaller vessels and carrying the most high-profile members of the flotilla, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau.

“These repeat attacks come during intensified Israeli aggression on Palestinians in Gaza, and are an orchestrated attempt to distract and derail our mission,” the activists said.

A ship, known as the ‘Family,’ part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, anchored off the coast of the village of Sidi Bou Said on September 9, 2025 (FETHI BELAID / AFP)

Tunisian coastal police were seen alongside the flotilla boats off the port town of Sidi Bou Said on Wednesday morning.

Tunisia’s Interior Ministry, coast guard and prosecutors did not immediately comment on the new incident.

Flotilla participants have reported seeing drones hovering over them ever since departing Barcelona on Sept. 1, including moments before the incidents.

While providing no evidence, some activists blamed Israel.

“Israel has done this on other occasions, to send a drone to sabotage some of the flotilla’s boats. This has happened before,” Colau claimed Tuesday.

In May, a ship carrying humanitarian aid and activists bound for Gaza was apparently bombed by drones while in international waters off Malta.

Israel has not responded to the accusations of the latest two incidents off Tunisia. It has previously dismissed the flotillas as publicity stunts.

Former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau (L) and activists prepare to embark on a flotilla aimed at breaking the blockade of the Gaza Strip, in the port of Barcelona, on August 31, 2025 (Lluis GENE / AFP)

The flotilla is slated to attempt to arrive in Gaza later this month, although it is expected that it will be intercepted by the Israeli Navy. If that were to happen, its members would likely be deported within days.

The Mediterranean Sea is one of the most surveilled bodies of water in the world with manned and unmanned military aircraft flying over it every day.

Drone and munition experts have pointed out, however, that the attacks reported by the flotilla could have been launched from small commercial drones adapted for the purpose.

The flotilla of around 20 boats is carrying a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza and had planned a stop in Tunis for other boats to join it.

Screen capture from video of an alleged drone attack on the lead vessel of the Global Sumud Flotilla for Gaza, September 9, 2025. (X)

The Global Sumud Flotilla is the largest attempt yet to break the blockade of the coastal Palestinian territory by sea.

Israel and Egypt have imposed varying degrees of blockade on Gaza since the Hamas terror group seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007 in a violent coup.

Israel says it is necessary to limit Hamas’s ability to smuggle in arms. Critics of the blockade say it amounts to collective punishment of Gaza’s roughly 2 million Palestinians.

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg (R) is seen on board of a vessel of a civilian flotilla, carrying pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel activists, and humanitarian aid and aiming to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip, moored at Barcelona port on September 1, 2025 (Lluis GENE / AFP)

The boats departed Barcelona more than a week ago but were forced back to the port due to poor weather, heading out again two days later.

In June, Israel intercepted another ship carrying Thunberg and other activists, towed them to shore and deported them from the country. And in July, 21 activists from 10 countries were intercepted as they tried to approach Gaza in another vessel, the Handala.

Aid agencies have said that famine conditions have reached parts of Gaza, a charge denied by Israel, which says it is boosting humanitarian deliveries to the Strip and working to ensure aid is not diverted by Hamas.