Second drone attack targets Gaza flotilla's boat in Tunisia, activists say

An international aid flotilla headed to Gaza said on Wednesday that it was attacked for a second consecutive night in the Mediterranean when a drone targeted one of its boats that was docked in Tunisian waters.

The flotilla shared CCTV footage showing people on board the group's UK-flagged Alma shouting "fire" and pointing to the sky.

Projectiles on fire fell on the deck, exploding and setting off a blaze. No one was harmed in the incident.

"A drone came and dropped another incendiary device," said Thiago Ávila, a Brazilian activist and flotilla spokesperson.

The group also posted a photo of a charred object covered in melted plastic, which they said was dropped by the drone, causing the fire.

"Fortunately, it was contained with no structural damage to our boat, with no wounds to our team and we continue our mission to break the siege of Gaza," Ávila added.

The attack appeared similar to one the night before on the Portuguese-flagged Family vessel.

Both the Alma and Family are the motherships of the mission, providing support and provisions to smaller vessels and carrying the most high-profile members of the flotilla, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau.

The flotilla of around 20 boats is carrying a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza and had planned a stop in Tunis for other boats to join it.

"These repeat attacks come during intensified Israeli aggression on Palestinians in Gaza and are an orchestrated attempt to distract and derail our mission," the activists said in a statement.

Tunisian coastal police were seen alongside the flotilla boats off the port town of Sidi Bou Saïd on Wednesday morning. Tunisian authorities earlier denied claims that the first attack had been caused by drones, adding that they were investigating.

Tunisia's Interior Ministry, coast guard and prosecutors did not immediately comment on the new incident on Wednesday.

Previous vessels targeted

It was not the first time activists trying to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza have come under attack.

Another vessel said it was targeted by drones in May in international waters off Malta. An overland convoy travelling across North Africa also attempted to reach the border but was blocked by security forces aligned with Egypt in eastern Libya.

While drones were not seen in the footage shared by the flotilla, buzzing sounds consistent with the unmanned aircraft could be heard in some of the videos.

Flotilla participants have also reported seeing drones hovering over them ever since departing Barcelona on 1 September, including moments before the attacks.

While falling short of providing concrete evidence, some activists blamed Israel, which has in the past intercepted other activist boats trying to reach Gaza by sea.

"Israel has done this on other occasions, to send a drone to sabotage some of the flotilla’s boats. This has happened before," Colau said on Tuesday.

Israel has not responded to the accusations. It has previously dismissed the flotillas as publicity stunts, saying the blockade of Gaza is necessary to prevent smuggling, particularly of weapons.

Israel's far-right Public Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has submitted a proposal to the Cabinet to classify the flotilla members as security prisoners, which could see them spend weeks in Israeli detention.

He is also attempting to classify protesters in Israel demonstrating against the war under a similar designation, as "supporters of terror," though both initiatives are unlikely to be passed.

If the flotilla was to be intercepted by Israel again, its members would likely be deported within days, similar to the last time.