Gaza Aid Ships Striked by Drone, Claim Organizers; Tunisian Authorities Dispute Claims - Aid flotilla organizers claim drone strike strikes boat - Denial from Tunisia
A fire reportedly broke out on the Gaza Aid Fleet's ship in Tunisian waters on early September 2025. The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, with preliminary findings suggesting a possible origin in the life jackets on board, possibly due to a cigarette.
The incident occurred on board the British ship Alma, one of the vessels in the Gaza Aid Fleet, which includes prominent members such as Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. No casualties were reported, but some damage was sustained.
The Tunisian National Guard has denied claims that the fire was caused by a drone. Israel, too, has rejected allegations made by the United Nations regarding the incident.
On August 22, the UN declared a famine prevailing in the Gaza Strip, accusing Israel of "systematically hindering" aid deliveries to the Palestinian territory. The destination of the Gaza Aid Fleet, where they plan to deliver humanitarian aid, is the Gaza Strip.
The fleet organizers believe the incident was an attempt to thwart their mission. This is not the first time Israel has interfered with attempts by activists to bring aid to the Gaza Strip by sea. In June and July, Israel had previously thwarted two such attempts.
The Gaza war initiated by Hamas and affiliated Palestinian groups began on October 7, 2023. Since the beginning of the conflict, Israel has launched massive military strikes in the Gaza Strip. Hamas authorities report over 64,500 people killed in the Gaza Strip, mostly civilians.
The incident was quickly extinguished, according to an AFP journalist in Sidi Bou Said near Tunis. However, the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Meanwhile, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, shared surveillance camera footage of the incident online on platform X. The location where she shared the footage is unknown.
A Brazilian activist posted a video claiming another member of the aid fleet stating that a drone dropped a bomb. No drone was found near the ship, according to the Tunisian National Guard.
The Gaza Aid Fleet is planning to reach the Gaza Strip in mid-September. The fleet's safe passage and successful delivery of humanitarian aid are crucial in alleviating the ongoing crisis in the Gaza Strip.
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