TUNIS — Tunisian authorities have denied claims that one of many Gaza-bound vessels carrying support and pro-Palestinian activists together with Greta Thunberg was attacked by a drone.
The organisers of the flotilla, World Sumud Flotilla (GSF), stated that the Portuguese-flagged vessel had been struck by a drone whereas anchored exterior the port of Sidi Bou Mentioned in Tunisia. All six passengers and crew have been secure, they added.
A spokesperson for Tunisia’s nationwide guard advised the Agence France-Presse information company that “no drone” had been detected and the investigation was ongoing.
The humanitarian support flotilla set sail from Barcelona final week, and arrived in Tunisia on Sunday.
The GSF stated their “Household boat” was struck in Tunisian waters, and hearth had broken the primary deck.
In a collection of movies revealed to their Instagram, spokespeople for the GSF stated an “incendiary machine” triggered a fireplace onboard the vessel, which the crew was capable of extinguish.
Tunisia’s Nationwide Guard spokesman advised Mosaique FM radio that experiences of a drone assault on the flotilla “don’t have any foundation in fact”, Reuters reported.
He added that an preliminary inspection indicated the explosion originated contained in the vessel.
UN Human Rights Council particular rapporteur and Tunisian resident Francesca Albanese, who was additionally featured in movies shared by the GSF, stated that if an assault may very well be verified it might be an “assault and aggression in opposition to Tunisia, and Tunisian sovereignty”.
In a publish to ‘X’, she stated she was at Sidi Bou Mentioned port and “making an attempt to determine the info with native authorities”.
Albanese has been a outstanding critic of Israel’s navy offensive in Gaza, and has been topic to sanctions imposed by the US in July — a choice welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who known as them a “agency measure in opposition to the mendacious smear marketing campaign” in opposition to Israel.
Flotilla organisers have stated that the purpose of their mission is to “break Israel’s unlawful siege on Gaza”, however have confronted a number of setbacks.
In June, Israeli forces boarded a ship carrying humanitarian support to Gaza and detained the 12 activists onboard, together with Swedish activist Thunberg.
Israeli authorities escorted the activists to the port of Ashdod earlier than deporting them from the nation.
Israeli authorities have characterised the makes an attempt to sail support to Gaza as publicity stunts that provided no actual humanitarian help.
There have additionally been prior allegations of drone assaults on support ships certain for Gaza; the Freedom Flotilla alleged that its ship The Conscience was struck by a drone in Could off the coast of Malta.
The BBC was despatched a recording of the misery name from the flotilla ship, recorded by a crew member on a close-by oil tanker. The captain of the flotilla ship might be heard reporting drone strikes and a fireplace onboard.
The Maltese authorities stated everybody aboard the ship was “confirmed secure” and {that a} hearth onboard the ship was “introduced underneath management in a single day”.
Final month a UN-backed physique confirmed that there was famine in Gaza and the UN’s humanitarian chief stated it was the direct results of Israel’s “systematic obstruction” of support getting into Gaza.
The report was labelled an “outright lie” by Israel, which has denied there’s hunger within the territory.
In March, it launched a virtually three-month complete blockade on provides getting into the Strip, claiming the help was being taken by Hamas.
It began permitting a restricted quantity of support again into the territory after rising worldwide stress.
Israel has since tried to impose its personal distribution system by way of the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Basis, which has been criticised by support businesses.
In 2010, Israeli commandos killed 10 individuals once they boarded Turkish ship Mavi Marmara which was main an support flotilla in direction of Gaza.
The Israeli navy launched a marketing campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led assault on 7 October 2023, through which about 1,200 individuals have been killed and 251 others have been taken hostage.
At the least 64,522 individuals have been killed in Israeli assaults in Gaza since then, in accordance with the territory’s Hamas-run well being ministry. — BBC
