Activist group says a drone hit a Gaza aid boat in Tunisia, but authorities deny attack

TUNIS Tunisia AP An international activist group seeking to deliver aid to Gaza on a flotilla says one of its boats was hit by what it believes was a drone while docked in Tunisia Tunisian officers denied a drone was involved and commented they are reviewing a fire in a life jacket aboard the boat The Global Sumud Flotilla declared in a declaration overnight that a vessel known as the Family Boat traveling under a Portuguese flag was struck by a drone but that no one aboard was hurt Footage posted on the group s social media indicated a flash of light landing on one of the boats and setting off what appears to be a fire The group whose flotilla was scheduled to leave Tunisia on Wednesday is expected to give a news conference in Tunis later Tuesday about what happened It commented the happening would not derail its mission to deliver aid to Gaza The flotilla is part of a broad movement seeking to deliver aid to Gaza by boat The Family Boat was carrying the largest part famous members of the flotilla including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau It is still unclear if they were on board during the announced attack Portuguese activist Miguel Duarte who was aboard the vessel stated at a press conference in Tunis on Tuesday that he clearly saw a drone just a limited meters above his head moments before an explosion The drone stood a limited seconds on top of a bunch of life jackets and then dropped a bomb Duarte declared The bomb exploded and there was a big flame there was a fire on board right now We picked up the fire extinguishers we were able to fight the fire successfully and everybody was safe fortunately The Tunisian Interior Ministry explained in a report that reports about a drone attack were unfounded and that specialized shield units are examining the results of a fire in a life jacket The Israeli military and Israeli governing body did not straightaway respond to requests for comment The flotilla which activists call Steadfastness in Arabic set sail from Barcelona last week hoping to passage food water and medicine to Gaza in defiance of Israel s blockade on the enclave s maritime perimeter The group had speculated about drones flying overhead on livestreams and social media Activists argue that the presence of doctors artists clergy and European politicians on board will help spotlight the blockade and Israel s moves to enforce it Its voyage comes three months after a smaller activist flotilla crossed the Mediterranean with plans to deliver aid to Gaza An overland convoy traveling across North Africa also attempted to reach the boundary but was blocked by safeguard forces aligned with Egypt in eastern Libya Israel has previously dismissed such efforts as publicity stunts saying a blockade is necessary to prevent smuggling particularly of weapons Not only we continue our mission we keep on going but since that attack happened thousands and thousands of people are now volunteering again to join our mission commented activist Thiago vila at Tuesday s press conference Zampano communicated from Rome Sam Metz in Rabat Morocco contributed to this document Source