A boat carrying Gaza-bound activists, including supporters of climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, caught fire following what witnesses described as a drone attack in Tunisian waters, marking the latest incident targeting vessels attempting to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
The Portuguese-flagged “Family Boat,” part of the Global Sumud Flotilla mission, was allegedly struck by a drone at approximately midnight UK time off the North African coast. Fellow activist Yasemin Acar, travelling with the flotilla, reported the incident via social media.
“The Family boat has been officially attacked – a drone came right above it, released a bomb and it exploded and the boat was on fire,” Acar stated in video footage posted online. “Everyone on that boat is ok. The fire is out.”
Pattern of Maritime Incidents
The incident represents the third reported attack on Freedom Flotilla Coalition vessels this year, following a pattern of escalating confrontations between pro-Palestinian activists and Israeli forces. In May 2025, the vessel Conscience was struck by drones near Malta whilst carrying 30 activists, forcing an emergency response from Maltese and Cypriot rescue services.
The Kurdistan-born activist Acar, who has previously been detained by Israeli forces, immediately attributed the alleged strike to Israel, though no official confirmation has emerged from Israeli authorities. “They have bombed a boat with civilians on it in Tunisian territory,” she declared. “This is an attack against Gaza because they don’t want us there.”
In another Instagram post, Acar described the incident as the “Zionist entity committing crimes in Tunisian territory.”
Global Sumud Flotilla Mission
The Family Boat forms part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, described by organisers as the largest maritime solidarity mission to Gaza, comprising approximately 50 vessels from 44 countries. The convoy departed Barcelona on 1st September, with Thunberg amongst the high-profile activists participating.
The flotilla reached Tunisia on 7th September, where hundreds of supporters gathered at Sidi Bou Said port to welcome the vessels. Organisers planned to collect additional boats and activists in Tunisia before attempting the final leg to Gaza.
“We all know why we are here,” Thunberg told supporters in Tunis. “Just across the water there’s a genocide going on, a mass starvation by Israel’s murder machine.”
European Parliament member Rima Hassan, also participating in the mission, praised the “role that the people play today in the face of the cowardice of states that prevent any solidarity with the Palestinian people.”
Israeli Blockade Enforcement
Israel has maintained strict control over Gaza’s territorial waters since 2007, when the blockade was imposed following Hamas’s takeover of the coastal enclave. Israeli officials consistently describe flotilla missions as “propaganda stunts” that aid designated terrorist organisations.
Defence Minister Israel Katz previously warned activists: “I have instructed the IDF to act to prevent the hate flotilla from reaching the shores of Gaza – and to take whatever measures are necessary to that end.”
The Israeli military has intercepted multiple flotilla attempts this year, detaining activists including Thunberg in June when forces boarded the vessel Madleen in international waters, approximately 185 kilometres from Gaza. All 12 activists aboard were subsequently deported.
Previous Drone Incidents
The May 2025 attack on the Conscience vessel established a concerning precedent for drone strikes targeting civilian aid ships. The incident occurred 14 nautical miles off Malta’s coast, causing fires and hull damage that nearly sank the vessel.
Maltese authorities dispatched rescue boats whilst Cyprus sent assistance, though the ship’s captain declined inspection offers from Maltese officials. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition attributed responsibility to Israel, though Israeli military sources stated they were “looking into reports” of the incident.
International Legal Framework
The flotilla operations occur under international maritime law, with organisers maintaining their missions constitute legal humanitarian aid delivery. However, Israel argues its blockade represents necessary security measures to prevent weapons smuggling to Hamas.
UN experts have called for safe passage for flotilla vessels, warning that blocking civilian aid ships violates international law. The International Court of Justice has issued binding orders requiring Israel to facilitate humanitarian access to Gaza.
Activists Under Pressure
Yasemin Acar, 37, has emerged as a prominent voice in the flotilla movement despite facing significant personal risks. The German-based activist of Kurdish descent has been detained multiple times by Israeli forces and reports facing threats and physical attacks in Germany for her Palestinian advocacy.
During her June detention following the Madleen interception, Acar described systematic psychological pressure from Israeli authorities, including sleep deprivation and forced viewing of propaganda materials about the 7th October attacks.
“They told us that there is no genocide, that there is no civilian killings, there is no starvation. They even told me there is no Palestine,” Acar recounted of her detention experience.
Humanitarian Crisis Context
The flotilla missions occur against the backdrop of severe humanitarian conditions in Gaza, where the UN has declared famine in certain areas. Food experts warn that half a million people across the Strip face catastrophic hunger levels.
Israel has maintained varying degrees of blockade since 2007, controlling the movement of goods and people into the enclave. Critics argue the restrictions constitute collective punishment of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, whilst Israel maintains they prevent weapons smuggling to Hamas.
The Gaza war, triggered by Hamas’s 7th October 2023 attack that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis, has resulted in over 41,000 Palestinian deaths according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
What Happens Next
The Global Sumud Flotilla faces an uncertain path forward following the latest incident. Previous attempts have consistently resulted in Israeli interception, with activists detained and deported.
However, organisers maintain their commitment to challenging the blockade regardless of risks. Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila described the mission as “the largest solidarity mission in history, with more people and more boats than all previous attempts combined.”
Israeli officials have not yet responded to the latest allegations, though past statements suggest any vessels approaching Gaza will face military interdiction. The incident raises fresh questions about the protection of civilian vessels in international waters and the enforcement of maritime blockades.
Follow for more updates on Britannia Daily
