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 functionaries denied a drone was involved and reported they are exploring a fire in a life jacket aboard the boat The Global Sumud Flotilla revealed in a message 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 displayed 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 mentioned the development 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 most of 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 broadcasted attack Portuguese activist Miguel Duarte who was aboard the vessel commented at a press conference in Tunis on Tuesday that he clearly saw a drone just a meager meters above his head moments before an explosion The drone stood a sparse seconds on top of a bunch of life jackets and then dropped a bomb Duarte reported The bomb exploded and there was a big flame there was a fire on board straightaway We picked up the fire extinguishers we were able to fight the fire successfully and everybody was safe fortunately The Tunisian Interior Ministry declared in a message that reports about a drone attack were unfounded and that specialized safeguard units are examining the results of a fire in a life jacket The Israeli military and Israeli regime did not straightaway respond to requests for comment The flotilla which activists call Steadfastness in Arabic set sail from Barcelona last week hoping to transfer food water and medicine to Gaza in defiance of Israel s blockade on the enclave s maritime frontier 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 demarcation but was blocked by protection 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 reported activist Thiago vila at Tuesday s press conference Zampano communicated from Rome Sam Metz in Rabat Morocco contributed to this description Source