Ongoing Attacks on Gaza Aid Flotilla Raise Concerns
An international aid flotilla heading to Gaza reported another attack on Wednesday night, this time targeting one of its vessels while it was docked in Tunisian waters. According to the group, a drone struck the UK-flagged Alma, causing a fire that was quickly contained. No injuries were reported.
The flotilla shared CCTV footage showing crew members shouting “fire” and pointing toward the sky as projectiles landed on the deck. The flames ignited, but the team managed to extinguish the blaze without any structural damage or harm to the crew.
Thiago Ávila, a Brazilian activist and spokesperson for the flotilla, stated, “A drone came and dropped another incendiary device.” The group also released a photo of a charred object covered in melted plastic, which they claimed was the source of the fire.
“We are fortunate that the fire was contained with no structural damage to our boat, and no injuries to our team. We continue our mission to break the siege of Gaza,” Ávila added.
This attack follows a similar incident the previous night when the Portuguese-flagged Family vessel was targeted. Both the Alma and Family serve as motherships for the mission, providing essential support and supplies to smaller boats. They also carry high-profile members such as Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau.
The flotilla consists of around 20 boats carrying symbolic humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza. It had planned to stop in Tunis to allow other vessels to join.
“These repeated attacks occur during heightened Israeli aggression against Palestinians in Gaza and represent an orchestrated effort to distract and derail our mission,” the activists said in a statement.
Tunisian coastal police were seen near the flotilla’s boats off the port town of Sidi Bou Saïd on Wednesday morning. However, Tunisian authorities previously denied claims that the first attack had been caused by drones, stating they were investigating the incident.
No immediate comments were received from Tunisia’s Interior Ministry, coast guard, or prosecutors regarding the latest attack.
Previous Incidents and Growing Tensions
This is not the first time that activists attempting to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza have faced attacks. In May, another vessel reported being targeted by drones in international waters off Malta. An overland convoy traveling across North Africa also attempted to reach the border but was blocked by security forces aligned with Egypt in eastern Libya.
While drones were not visible in the footage shared by the flotilla, some videos captured buzzing sounds consistent with unmanned aircraft. Participants have also reported seeing drones hovering over them since departing Barcelona on September 1. These sightings occurred moments before the attacks.
Although no concrete evidence has been provided, some activists have blamed Israel, which has previously intercepted other activist boats trying to reach Gaza by sea.
“Israel has done this on other occasions, sending a drone to sabotage some of the flotilla’s boats. This has happened before,” Colau said on Tuesday.
Israel has not responded to these accusations. It has previously dismissed the flotillas as publicity stunts, claiming the blockade of Gaza is necessary to prevent smuggling, particularly of weapons.
Political Developments and Possible Consequences
Israel’s far-right Public Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has proposed classifying flotilla members as security prisoners, which could lead to weeks of detention if they are intercepted. He is also attempting to classify protesters in Israel demonstrating against the war under a similar designation, calling them “supporters of terror.” However, both initiatives are unlikely to be approved.
If the flotilla is intercepted again, its members could face deportation within days, similar to what happened last time. The ongoing tensions highlight the challenges faced by those seeking to bring aid to Gaza amid increasing restrictions and threats.