Gaza Aid Boat Reportedly Hit by Drone in Tunisia

An activist collective, known for sending ships with humanitarian aid to Gaza, reported that one of its vessels was allegedly targeted by a drone in Tunisian waters. The Global Sumud Flotilla made the claim on Tuesday, stating that all six people on the boat were unharmed. Although notable climate activist Greta Thunberg was not on this particular voyage, she has been involved in similar missions.

The group showed footage that purportedly captured the incident, with video appearing to display a fiery object dropping onto the vessel.

Details of the Alleged Strike

Miguel Duarte, one of the crew members, described at a press conference how he observed a drone hovering and subsequently releasing an explosive. Duarte recounted, 'I noticed the drone above us and promptly alerted the crew. Shortly after, it moved, hovered over some life jackets, and then dropped what seemed to be a bomb.'

The explosion ignited a fire which the team managed to extinguish without anyone getting hurt.

Tunisian authorities initially dismissed the claims, attributing the fire to a stray cigarette or lighter setting off a life jacket. They found no initial evidence to imply an external attack.

Official Responses

The Interior Ministry of Tunisia later revised their statement, acknowledging the video evidence presented by the activists, which prompted them to establish a special committee for further investigation. A spokesperson for the flotilla emphasized their appreciation for this development and awaits the investigation's conclusions.

No immediate feedback was provided by Tunisia’s Interior Ministry when approached for further comments by CBS News.

The Broader Conflict

Israel maintains a maritime blockade around Gaza, arguing it is a measure to prevent the ingress of arms to Hamas, a group designated as terrorist by both Israel and the United States. The Israeli authorities have historically intercepted vessels attempting to breach this blockade, some resulting in the loss of lives.

Israeli officials declined to comment on the recent incident involving the flotilla in Tunisia. They have previously categorized such flotillas as media-driven endeavors rather than genuine aid efforts.

The flotilla departed from Spain with the intent to carry essential supplies to those suffering in Gaza, highlighting the relentless humanitarian crisis in the region.