A SECOND drone strike has allegedly struck a flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza and with Swedish activist Greta Thunberg on board at a port in Tunisia.
The organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla for Gaza (GSF), a 20-boat convoy carrying pro-Palestinian activists from 44 nations, said one of its boats was attacked by a drone at Tunisia’s Sidi Bou Said port on Wednesday, the second such reported strike in two days.
The flotilla, which is attempting to break Israel's naval blockade and deliver much-needed aid to Palestinians in war-torn Gaza, had been allegedly struck by a drone strike on Tuesday.
However, Tunisia’s authorities said reports of a drone hitting the Portuguese-flagged boat, which was carrying the flotilla's steering committee, had “no basis in truth” and that a fire broke out on the vessel itself.
In a post on social media GSF organisers said the British-flagged Alma had sustained fire damage to its top deck on Wednesday and that an investigation was underway.
Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, posted a video of the burning Alma and said it indicated a drone attack.
“Video evidence suggests a drone – with no light so it could not be seen – dropped a device that set the deck of the Alma boat on fire,” she said.
BREAKING!!‼️ Second attack on the Flotilla, still in Tunisian waters, in two days! Video evidence suggests that a drone - with no light so it could not be seen - dropped a device 👇that set the deck of the Alma boat on fire. Look by yourself and draw your conclusions https://t.co/ZQylq6aLYD pic.twitter.com/bJ8QaSzTho
— Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt (@FranceskAlbs) September 9, 2025
In a statement posted on social media, GSF confirmed that all passengers and crew were unharmed and that no structural damage had been caused following the alleged attack.
It read: “The Global Sumud Flotilla (GS) confirms that on September 9, another boat in our fleet the ‘Alma’ - was attacked by a drone as it was docked in Tunisian waters. The boat, sailing under the British flag, sustained fire damage on its top deck. The fire has since been extinguished, and all passengers and crew are safe. An investigation is currently underway and when more information is available it will be released immediately.
“This marks the second such attack in two days. These repeat attacks come during intensified Israeli aggression on Palestinians in Gaza, and are an orchestrated attempt to distract and derail our mission.
“The Global Sumud Flotilla continues undeterred. Our peaceful voyage to break Israel's illegal siege on Gaza and stand in unwavering solidarity with its people presses forward with determination and resolve.”
Reuters said that witnesses reported that coastguard boats and several ambulances were sent to Alma following the incident.
Activists of the flotilla said they would continue their “peaceful voyage” on Wednesday as planned, as they will press forward with “determination and resolve”.
Tadhg Hickey, who was onboard the Alma, told The National yesterday before the alleged drone attack that the flotilla’s mission was not about the activists taking part, but about the Palestinian people.
“The attention on the flotilla is a conduit to attention on Gaza, that's our whole purpose,” he said.
“The most positive messages I'm getting are people from Gaza, who send me messages every day saying, 'When are you coming?'. They write messages on the beach.
“When you get those messages from people from Gaza, any other kind of worry goes out of my head.”
Israel has imposed a naval blockade on the coastal enclave since 2007, as it said it aims to stop weapons from reaching Hamas militants.
The GSF mission comes after Israel sealed off Gaza by land in early March, letting in no supplies for three months, which has resulted in an ongoing humanitarian crisis as Palestinians are facing starvation.
In August, a UN-backed body confirmed there was famine in Gaza due to Israel's “systematic obstruction” of aid entering the territory.
In June, Israeli naval forces boarded and seized a British-flagged yacht carrying Thunberg, among other activists, claiming it was a propaganda stunt.
