The lead boat of the Global Sumud Flotilla, organized to break the siege on Gaza, caught fire off the Tunisian coast. (Photo: video grab)
Activists report that the lead ship of the Gaza-bound flotilla was struck by a drone off Tunisia, igniting a fire but causing no injuries.
Sept. 9, 2025
The lead boat of the Global Sumud Flotilla, organized to break the siege on Gaza, caught fire off the Tunisian coast early Tuesday.
A video released by activists depicts a boat at sea with a burning object falling from above, igniting part of the vessel.
The International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza, which published the video on Facebook, said it was filmed from another flotilla boat and shows the Family vessel being “struck” from above.
Earlier, the flotilla’s management reported that its main ship was attacked in the early hours of Tuesday, sparking a fire on board.
Thiago Ávila, a member of the steering committee, told Al-Jazeera that the Family boat was hit by an incendiary drone near the Tunisian coast. Several members of the crew were present, though no one was injured.
For his part, the flotilla’s spokesman, Saif Abu Kishk, stressed that the fleet would continue sailing despite the incident.
The convoy was scheduled to depart from the Tunisian port of Sidi Bou Said at a later date, aiming to challenge the Israeli blockade on Gaza.
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