Greta Thunberg was onboard Family Boat – one of the vessels with a Portuguese flag and carrying members of aid worker’s Steering Committee – as it headed towards Gaza
A boat carrying Greta Thunberg and her family caught fire as it headed towards Gaza on an aid mission overnight.
Initial reports suggested it was attacked by a drone strike but Tunisian authorities said the explosion originated inside the vessel, and Tunisia’s National Guard spokesperson told Mosaique FM radio that reports of a drone attack on the flotilla “have no basis in truth”.
Family Boat – was transporting Greta and around 350 other activists and aid workers at the time of th incident in the ancient port city of Carthage at around midnight, UK time, according to fellow sailor Yasemin Acar. Ms Acar said: “The Family boat has been officially attacked – a drone came right above it, released a bomb and it exploded and the boat was on fire. Everyone on that boat is ok. The fire is out.”
It is understood the boat carried many of the same people who were detained with Greta during an earlier attempt to reach Gaza in June. During this attempt, Greta, 22, pleaded for help when activists on Madleen were “intercepted and kidnapped” in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces.
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Tunisia’s National Guard spokesman told Mosaique FM radio that reports of a drone attack on the flotilla “have no basis in truth”, Reuters reported. He added that an initial inspection indicated the explosion originated inside the vessel.
The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), the group behind the mission, later confirmed the suspected attack, saying in a statement: “The Global Sumud Flotilla confirms that one of the main boats, known as the ‘Family Boat’ – that was carrying GSF Steering Committee members – was struck by what is suspected to be a drone.
“The boat was under the Portuguese flag and all passengers and crew are safe. An investigation is currently underway and when more information is available it will be released immediately.
“Acts of aggression aimed at intimidating and derailing our mission will not deter us. Our peaceful mission to break the siege on Gaza and stand in solidarity with its people continues with determination and resolve.”
Game of Thrones star Liam Cunningham, also part of the travelling crew, declared: “THE ISRAELIS HAVE ATTACKED THE FLOTILLA MAIN BOAT IN TUNISIAN TERRITORY!”
No country has yet officially claimed responsibility for the incident, which has damaged the vessel.
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