After Gaza flotilla group claims Israeli drone strike, Tunisia says no drone detected

After the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) for Gaza claimed on Tuesday that its lead vessel, the “Family Boat,” was hit by a drone while docked port in Tunisia, Tunisian authorities denied the allegation, saying no drone activity was detected.

In a statement, the GSF said that the boat “carrying GSF Steering Committee members was struck by a drone in Tunisian waters.”

The “Family Boat” is carrying former climate activist Greta Thunberg, who in June joined an earlier flotilla that was intercepted by Israeli authorities. She was later detained by Israeli authorities before reaching Gaza, and was deported on a commercial airline flight. 

Members of the earlier flotilla also accused Israel of using drones to attack them, and GSF participants suggested Israel was responsible again this time.

“The family boat has been officially attacked. The drone came right above it, released the bomb, and it exploded and the boat was on fire. Everyone on that boat is okay … they have bombed a boat, once again, with civilians on it. In Tunisian territory,” said Yasemin Acar, who was on board at the time.

To bolster its claims, the GSF shared a video showing a flaming object falling on the boat, which then ignites a fire. 

Footage from another boat of our Flotilla shows the exact moment the Family Boat was struck from above. pic.twitter.com/qVpUyg56uP

— Global Sumud Flotilla (@GlobalSumudFlot) September 9, 2025

However, in another video uploaded by the group, filmed just a few meters from the point of impact, neither the sound of a drone nor an explosion can be heard. Instead, a thumping sound is audible as the flaming object strikes the boat, followed by shouts from those on board.

GSF shared another video in which one of the activists onboard the vessel claims the drone was “just above our heads.” The activist, identified as Miguel Duarte, is seen in one of the videos running as the burning object falls on the boat. 

More footage from Family boat’s CCTV confirming the drone strike. pic.twitter.com/XZUydsapXd

— Global Sumud Flotilla (@GlobalSumudFlot) September 9, 2025

In a video posted to Instagram, Duarte claimed, “Let me be clear 100%. It was a drone dropping a bomb on the forward deck of our ship.”

Tunisia's National Guard spokesperson, Houcem Eddine Jebabli, told Mosaique FM radio that reports of a drone attack on the vessel “have no basis in truth,” saying the fire originated on the vessel.

He also told AFP, “The investigation is ongoing and no drone has been detected.” 

“According to preliminary findings, a fire broke out in the life jackets on board a ship anchored 50 miles from the port of Sidi Bou Said,” said Jebabli, suggesting that the fire may have been caused by a burning cigarette.

The General Directorate of the National Guard released a statement to several Arab media outlets, stating, “We deny the existence of a drone that targeted one of the anchored ships at the Sidi Bou Said port.” 

“There is no existence of any hostile act or external targeting of one of the Resilience Fleet ships,” the statement continued, saying that the initial investigation revealed that the fire was an internal problem. 

Images uploaded by GSF show signs of a fire, but no evidence of an explosion. 

Despite the official denials, Francesca Albanese, the UN's special rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories" – a vocal anti-Israel activist – also hinted that Israel was to blame and attempted to stoke tensions between Tunisia and Israel.

“The main flotilla boat, Family, has been attacked. By a drone. Of course, it will have to be verified … if it’s confirmed that there has been an attack on this flotilla, there has been an attack on Tunisia,” Albanese said.

The flotilla was scheduled to depart Tunisia on Wednesday as it attempts to make its way to Gaza, ostensibly for the purpose of bringing aid to Gaza. Sumud means “steadfastness” in Arabic. 

A previous effort organized by the same group claimed to have been targeted by an Israeli drone while off the coast of Malta, however, the activists would not let police investigate.

The Israeli government has dismissed the flotilla, as well as previous efforts by the group, as a publicity stunt, noting that the vessels carry less aid than a single humanitarian truck.