Gaza City [Gaza], September 10: Organizers of the pro-Palestinian flotilla hoping to carry aid to Gaza said on Tuesday one of their boats was targeted by a drone attack off the coast of Tunisia, prompting denials from Tunis.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, which set off from Barcelona last week with hundreds of activists on board, including Greta Thunberg, said one of its main boats was "struck by a drone in Tunisian waters." "All six passengers and crew are safe," the statement added.
"Fire damage was caused to the main deck and below deck storage." Tunisian authorities have rejected claims of a drone attack and said a fire on board was caused by a burning life jacket. Citing the Interior Ministry, the Tunisian state news agency TAP reported that security forces investigated the fire on board and determined that it started from a burning life jacket due to a cigarette or lighter.
There were no casualties or damage to property, apart from several burnt life jackets, the agency said. However, the flotilla published videos on Instagram showing a flash emerging from the sky and hitting the boat, causing a fire.
Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, said the incident had caused "shock" and warned that the flotilla has faced threats, including from Israel.
"I was on the deck on the back part of the ship, and I heard a drone," he said. "I came out of the cover of the deck to see a drone hovering about 3 or 4 metres above my head, called my fellow crew members." "Two of us stood there with the drone, exactly 3 or 4 metres above our head," he added.
"Then we saw the drone move to the forward part of the deck. It stood a few seconds on top of a bunch of life jackets and then dropped a bomb. The bomb exploded and there was a big flame."
Source: Qatar Tribune
