Thunberg's Gaza-bound flotilla 'struck by drone'

A Gaza-bound flotilla carrying humanitarian aid with the Swedish activist Greta Thunberg on board claimed that one of their boats was struck by a suspected drone on Tunisian waters.

- ALISHA RAHAMAN SARKAR

The Global Sumud Flotilla for Gaza (GSF), which comprises about 20 vessels carrying pro-Palestinian activists from 44 nations, is attempting to break Israel's naval blockade on the embattled Gaza Strip.

The Portuguese-flagged boat, carrying the flotilla's steering committee, sustained fire damage to its main deck and below-deck storage, the organisers said in a statement. The GSF "confirms that one of the main boats ... was struck by what is suspected to be a drone", the organisers said on social media. It said everyone on board was safe after the incident.

The flotilla arrived in Tunisia over the weekend and was anchored about 80km from the port of Sidi Bou Said when the incident allegedly took place.

"I was sleeping when I heard this explosion," said journalist Yusuf Omar, who is among the dozens of activists heading towards Gaza in an attempt to break the Israeli blockade. "A big explosion happened right next to our diesel tank. The neighbouring boats spotted a drone coming in. They said it flew above basically where I was sleeping, and then it went to the front and detonated," he said in a post on Instagram.