The Global Sumud Flotilla, the largest civilian-led effort to break Israel’s illegal naval blockade of Gaza, has vowed to continue its mission after its flagship vessel, the Family Boat, was struck in what organizers and witnesses describe as an Israeli drone attack.

The strike occurred in the early hours of September 8 while the vessel, sailing under the Portuguese flag, was anchored at the port of Sidi Bou Said in Tunisia. Flotilla member Wael Nawar said the incident was a “targeted attack by an Israeli drone.” Though all crew and passengers escaped unharmed, the ship sustained damage believed to have been caused by an incendiary device.

Local media reported that strict security measures were imposed at the port following the attack. However, Tunisian authorities offered a conflicting account. A spokesperson for the National Guard suggested the incident may have resulted from a technical malfunction and dismissed reports of aerial activity, while the Interior Ministry later called drone strike claims “baseless.”

The flotilla’s Egyptian committee condemned the strike as “a criminal aggression by a Zionist war drone” and “a cowardly escalation on Tunisian soil.” It described the incident as a violation of Arab sovereignty and pledged that Egyptian participation in the mission would continue regardless of threats.

Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, confirmed the attack and expressed concern for the safety of two additional flotilla boats currently en route to Tunisia. She called for urgent international protection for the vessels.

The incident follows a similar assault in May 2025, when a Gaza Freedom Flotilla ship was hit twice by armed drones in international waters near Malta. That attack caused severe damage and nearly sank the vessel. Activists widely condemned Israel, although Tel Aviv never acknowledged responsibility.

The targeting of the Family Boat is seen by flotilla organizers as part of a pattern of attempts to block international solidarity with Gaza and to intimidate civilian efforts delivering humanitarian relief.

The Global Sumud Flotilla is a multinational civilian mission involving dozens of aid-laden boats and hundreds of activists from 44 countries. Among them are Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and Portuguese politician Mariana Mortágua.

Organizers say the flotilla represents a historic act of defiance against Israel’s 18-year blockade of Gaza, which has devastated daily life for the enclave’s 2.3 million residents. The mission seeks to deliver urgently needed supplies of food, medicine, and fuel while highlighting the illegality of the blockade under international law.

According to Save the Children, more than 20,000 Palestinian children have been killed by Israeli forces since October 2023, with the siege deepening the humanitarian catastrophe.

The flotilla announced a press conference today featuring remarks from Francesca Albanese, steering committee members, civil society leaders, and survivors of the attack. Organizers will also outline next steps for the flotilla’s journey.

“This attack is a desperate attempt to silence our defiance of Israel’s illegal siege,” a flotilla spokesperson said. “We will not be intimidated. Our mission to deliver aid and assert Gaza’s right to freedom will continue.”

International outrage has grown in the wake of the incident, with social media users rallying under hashtags such as #SumudFlotilla and #BreakTheBlockade. Many have drawn parallels to Israel’s deadly 2010 raid on the Mavi Marmara, in which 10 activists were killed while attempting to reach Gaza by sea.

As the flotilla prepares to set sail once again, organizers say the attack has only strengthened their determination. The mission, they insist, embodies the enduring spirit of solidarity with Palestine against oppression and siege. (ILKHA)