Gaza Flotilla reports drone attack that caused fire
A boat was damaged by fire while docked in Tunisia before sailing to the Strip, but no one was hurt.
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BarcelonaThe Global Sumud Flotilla, which aims to reach Gaza to break the Israeli blockade, reported a drone attack on one of its main vessels on Monday night. The alleged attack, which Tunisian authorities deny, caused a fire, but no one was harmed. "The Global Sumud Flotilla confirms that one of the main vessels, known as the Family Boat, carrying members of the GSF steering committee, was attacked by a drone in Tunisian waters," it said in a brief statement on social media. The attack caused "fire damage to the main deck and lower storage" of the ship, but "the six passengers and crew on board are off board.
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Several videos spread on social networks by the Global Sumud Flotilla and some of the activists show how a device hits the vessel at 11:45 p.m. (local time), causing the flames, and how the crew then sounded the alarms. The Global Sumud Flotilla has announced that it is investigating the incident and has stated: "Acts of aggression aimed at intimidating us and frustrating our mission will not deter us." "Our peaceful mission to break the blockade of Gaza and stand in solidarity with its people continues with determination and resolve," it has defended.
For its part, the Tunisian National Guard has denied that it was a drone attack, and maintains that it is "completely baseless news." The Tunisian Interior Ministry agency has noted on its Facebook account that the flames originated "in one of the boat's life jackets, due to a lighter or a cigarette butt." "No evidence of any hostile act or external attack was found," he added, assuring that these are the conclusions drawn from the initial investigations.
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares reported that the four Spaniards on the boat are fine, and stressed that all Spanish citizens have "full consular protection, but also full diplomatic protection." In the press conference following the Council of Ministers, he added that the Spanish government's desire is "that there not be any flotillas" and "that food can enter (Gaza) en masse and without obstacles through land points."
The flotilla boats are expected to leave this Wednesday from the port of Sidi Bou Said, near the Tunisian capital, bound for the Gaza Strip, with some 300 volunteers from up to 44 countries, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and Barcelona.