A Gaza-bound boat carrying Swedish climate and political activist Greta Thunberg has been set on fire after being struck by a drone, the crew have claimed.
The Portuguese-flagged vessel was reportedly hit while anchored outside the port of Sidi Bou Said in Tunisia.
Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), the organisers of the flotilla, added that all six passengers and crew were safe.
But Tunisia's national guard told the Agence France-Presse news agency that "no drone" had been detected and the investigation was ongoing.
A spokesman for the guard told Tunisian radio station Mosaique FM radio that reports of a strike "have no basis in truth".
Ms Thunberg, 22, is travelling to the Gaza Strip along with a convoy of around 20 boats to deliver food and medicine to Palestinians in an attempt to break the Israeli aid blockade.
The flotilla, which departed Barcelona in Spain last week, is expected to reach its final destination next week.
In a series of videos shared on Instagram, the GSF said an "incendiary device" caused a blaze onboard the “Family Boat”, which members were able to extinguish.
Francesca Albanese, a United Nations Human Rights Council special rapporteur and Tunisian resident who was also featured in the clips, claimed that if verified it would represent an "assault and aggression against Tunisia, and Tunisian sovereignty".
In June, the Israel Defence Forces boarded the “Freedom Flotilla” carrying aid to Gaza and detained the 12 activists onboard, including Ms Thunberg.
The Israeli government has characterised Ms Thunberg’s attempts to sail to the besieged Palestinian enclave as publicity stunts that offered no real assistance.
Last month, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification said that Gaza was suffering from famine, which the UN argues is the direct result of Israel's "systematic obstruction" of aid entering Gaza.
In March, Israel introduced a nearly three-month total blockade on supplies entering Gaza amid allegations it was seized by Hamas.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration has since tried to impose its own distribution system through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
According to Palestinian health officials, more than 60,000 people have been killed since Israel’s military campaign against Hamas commenced following the October 7, 2023 massacre, which killed 1,200 Israelis.
