On Tuesday morning, a report emerged from a humanitarian fleet heading from Spain to Gaza, stating that one of its boats had been “hit by a drone” while at anchor near Tunisia’s capital. The report emphasized that there was “no hostile action or external targeting” involved.
The Tunisian National Guard issued a statement clarifying that, contrary to rumors circulating on social media about a “drone” attacking the vessel, such claims were unfounded.
According to initial investigations, the fire onboard was caused by flames igniting from a life jacket due to a lighter or a cigarette butt.
The statement confirmed that “there was no hostile act or external targeting.”
This denial came after the “Global Solidarity Fleet,” which was en route to Gaza with humanitarian aid and activists, reported that one of its boats had been struck late Monday night, resulting in a fire onboard.
In a statement shared on Instagram, the fleet, which departed from Barcelona with the aim to “break the Israeli blockade” on Gaza, said that the boat was near the port of Sidi Bou Said when it “was hit by a drone,” leading to a fire on board.
A journalist from AFP, who arrived quickly at the port, noted that several boats were surrounding the vessel, but the fire had already been extinguished.
The fleet specified that six individuals were aboard the boat at the time of the incident, all of whom are safe and in good health.
However, the vessel sustained material damage, and the fleet condemned these actions as “aggressions aimed at obstructing its mission” to “open a humanitarian corridor and put an end to the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people” in Gaza.
This fleet, carrying humanitarian supplies, includes supporters of the Palestinian cause.
The spokesperson for the National Guard, Hossam El-Din Jabali, informed AFP that “according to initial investigations, a fire broke out in the life jackets.”
No Basis
The National Guard emphasized in its statement that claims regarding a drone flying in the area are “without basis.”
Initially, Jabali indicated that the boat was anchored about 50 miles from Sidi Bou Said port.
During the night, Brazilian activist Thiago Avila posted a video on Instagram featuring testimony from another fleet member who claimed to have seen a drone.
The activist, named Miguel, asserted, “It was definitely a drone that dropped a bomb.”
The fleet is expected to reach Gaza by mid-September, following two previous attempts in June and July, when Israel blocked the activists’ efforts to deliver aid by sea.
The “Global Solidarity Fleet” describes itself on its website as an “independent” organization that is “not affiliated with any government or political party.”
The United Nations has declared famine in Gaza, warning that 500,000 individuals are facing “catastrophic” conditions.