Gaza's Global Sumud Flotilla Ship Again Attacked By Drones In Tunisia

JAKARTA - Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), an international aid initiative movement to deliver critical supplies to Gaza, said one of its ships was again attacked by a drone at the Tunisian port.

The GSF, which seeks to penetrate Israel's sea blockade and deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza by civilian ships, ensures all passengers and crew are not injured.

The GSF reported its first attack on Tuesday on a drone in Tunisian waters at Sidi Bou Said port. But Tunisian authorities denied the attack.

One of the fleet's managers accused Israel of masterminding the attack.

"Israel continues to violate international law and terrorize us. We will sail to break the blockade in Gaza no matter what they do," Saif Abukeshek, a member of the GSF steering committee, told Reuters on Wednesday, September 10.

The fleet uploaded a video on Instagram showing the alleged attack, showing a luminous object hitting the ship and the fire burning in it.

After the attack, hundreds of people gathered near the port, where the fleet ships were at the time of the incident, waving the Palestinian flag and chanting slogans against Israel and the United States.

The Fleet of Sumud Global awaits near Sidi Bou Said to sail to Gaza

The group said the British-flagged Alma ship was damaged by a fire on its top deck and an investigation is underway.

Several ambulances rushed to the port, while a Reuters witness reported a coast guard ship near Alma.

The fleet is backed by delegations from 44 countries, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and Portugal's left-wing politician Mariana Mortagua.

Israel has maintained a blockade in the coastal area since Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007, arguing that the blockade was necessary to prevent arms smuggling.