Greta Thunberg’s Gaza flotilla hit by drone, organisers declare

[ad_1] <img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/62e7/live/717ae500-8d68-11f0-ac8c-8129e35aa651.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/62e7/live/717ae500-8d68-11f0-ac8c-8129e35aa651.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/62e7/live/717ae500-8d68-11f0-ac8c-8129e35aa651.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/62e7/live/717ae500-8d68-11f0-ac8c-8129e35aa651.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/62e7/live/717ae500-8d68-11f0-ac8c-8129e35aa651.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/62e7/live/717ae500-8d68-11f0-ac8c-8129e35aa651.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/62e7/live/717ae500-8d68-11f0-ac8c-8129e35aa651.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/62e7/live/717ae500-8d68-11f0-ac8c-8129e35aa651.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="GLOBAL SUDUM FLOTILLA A bright white light which looks like an explosion is seen in a video purporting to show a boat being hit by a flaming object " class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> GLOBAL SUDUM FLOTILLA International Sumud Flotilla shared footage of the alleged strike on Instagram

One of many Gaza-bound vessels carrying support and pro-Palestinian activists together with Greta Thunberg was struck by a drone, the flotilla organisers have claimed.

International Sumud Flotilla (GSF) posted footage on Instagram that appeared to indicate the Portuguese-flagged vessel being hit by an object, and mentioned all six passengers and crew have been secure after the incident exterior the Tunisian port of Sidi Bou Mentioned.

Tunisian authorities quoted by Reuters mentioned studies a drone was concerned "had no foundation in fact", including an preliminary inspection indicated the explosion originated contained in the vessel.

The humanitarian support flotilla set sail from Barcelona final week, and arrived in Tunisia on Sunday.

The GSF mentioned their "Household boat" was struck in Tunisian waters, and hearth had broken the principle deck.

In a sequence of movies revealed to their Instagram, spokespeople for the GSF mentioned an "incendiary gadget" brought about a fireplace onboard the vessel, which the crew was in a position to extinguish.

A spokesperson for the Tunisian nationwide guard additionally instructed the AFP information company "no drone" had been detected and the investigation was ongoing.

UN Human Rights Council particular rapporteur and Tunisian resident Francesca Albanese, who was additionally featured in movies shared by the GSF, mentioned that if an assault might be verified it will be an "assault and aggression in opposition to Tunisia, and Tunisian sovereignty".

In a submit to 'X', she mentioned she was at Sidi Bou Mentioned port and "making an attempt to determine the information with native authorities".

Albanese has been a distinguished critic of Israel's navy offensive in Gaza, and has been topic to sanctions imposed by the US in July - a call welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who known as them a "agency measure in opposition to the mendacious smear marketing campaign" in opposition to Israel.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/af01/live/6b9035f0-8d18-11f0-9cf6-cbf3e73ce2b9.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/af01/live/6b9035f0-8d18-11f0-9cf6-cbf3e73ce2b9.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/af01/live/6b9035f0-8d18-11f0-9cf6-cbf3e73ce2b9.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/af01/live/6b9035f0-8d18-11f0-9cf6-cbf3e73ce2b9.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/af01/live/6b9035f0-8d18-11f0-9cf6-cbf3e73ce2b9.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/af01/live/6b9035f0-8d18-11f0-9cf6-cbf3e73ce2b9.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/af01/live/6b9035f0-8d18-11f0-9cf6-cbf3e73ce2b9.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/af01/live/6b9035f0-8d18-11f0-9cf6-cbf3e73ce2b9.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="EPA Three sailing boats are seen anchored in turquoise waters, with Palestinian flags strung through the rigging and masts of the vessels." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> EPA A part of the International Sumud Flotilla pictured off the coast of Sidi Bou Mentioned port in Tunisia

Flotilla organisers have mentioned that the purpose of their mission is to "break Israel's unlawful siege on Gaza", however have confronted a number of setbacks.

In June, Israeli forces boarded a ship carrying humanitarian support to Gaza and detained the 12 activists onboard, together with Swedish activist Thunberg.

Israeli authorities escorted the activists to the port of Ashdod earlier than deporting them from the nation.

Israeli authorities have characterised the makes an attempt to sail support to Gaza as publicity stunts that supplied no actual humanitarian help.

There have additionally been prior allegations of drone assaults on support ships certain for Gaza; the Freedom Flotilla alleged that its ship The Conscience was struck by a drone in Could off the coast of Malta.

The BBC was despatched a recording of the misery name from the flotilla ship, recorded by a crew member on a close-by oil tanker. The captain of the flotilla ship might be heard reporting drone strikes and a fireplace onboard.

The Maltese authorities mentioned everybody aboard the ship was "confirmed secure" and {that a} hearth onboard the ship was "introduced underneath management in a single day".

Final month a UN-backed physique confirmed that there was famine in Gaza and the UN's humanitarian chief mentioned it was the direct results of Israel's "systematic obstruction" of support getting into Gaza.

The report was labelled an "outright lie" by Israel, which has denied there's hunger within the territory.

In March, it launched an almost three-month whole blockade on provides getting into the Strip, claiming the help was being taken by Hamas.

It began permitting a restricted quantity of support again into the territory after rising worldwide strain.

Israel has since tried to impose its personal distribution system via the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Basis, which has been criticised by support businesses.

In 2010, Israeli commandos killed 10 folks after they boarded Turkish ship Mavi Marmara which was main an support flotilla in the direction of Gaza.

The Israeli navy launched a marketing campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led assault on 7 October 2023, during which about 1,200 folks have been killed and 251 others have been taken hostage.