LAST UPDATE | 9 Sep

TWO IRISH ACTIVISTS were among six people on board a Gaza-bound flotilla boat that was allegedly attacked overnight off the coast of Tunisia. 

The boat was carrying aid and pro-Palestinian activists. The organisers said that one of their boats was hit by a suspected drone.

The flotilla, which aims to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, arrived in Tunisia over the weekend and was anchored off the coast of Sidi Bou Said port when it reported the incident.

“The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) confirms that one of the main boats… was struck by what is suspected to be a drone,” the organisers said on social media, adding no one was hurt.

They shared security camera footage from the boat in which a humming sound can be heard, before a flash of light illuminates the frame.

It is understood that two Irish activists were on aboard, including a number of Portuguese activists.

Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly condemned the alleged attack earlier this evening.

Connolly said: “I am shocked to hear of the overnight attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla. This is a peaceful humanitarian aid mission trying to bring food and medical supplies to the people of Gaza who are being bombed and starved by Israel.

“Israel must allow the flotilla to bring its shipment of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Western governments must end their complicity with what Israel is doing and must support the flotilla to complete its essential humanitarian mission.

“We are witnessing a genocide. I hoped I would never have to say such words in my lifetime. As President I would travel to Palestine to show my support and solidarity and that of the Irish people to the people of Palestine.”

Connolly said she is “so proud” of the Irish participants, which include novelist Naoise Dolan, Senator Chris Andrews, TD Paul Murphy, TD Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh, Lynn Boylan MEP, poet Sarah Clancy and human rights activist Caoimhe Butterly.

“I salute their moral conviction and their bravery and I hope with all my heart that they are successful in their mission to break the Israeli siege of Gaza.”

Miguel Duarte, an activist who was on the boat when the incident occurred, said that a drone was spotted following the boat shortly before the attack.

“I came out of the cover of the deck to see a drone hovering about three or four meters above my head. I called my fellow crew members, two of us stood there with the drone exactly three or four meters above our heads,” Duarte told a press conference today.

“Then we saw the drone move to the forward part of the deck. It paused for a few seconds on top of a bunch of life jackets, and then dropped a bomb. The bomb exploded, and there was a big flame. There was a fire on board.”

The vessel was in Tunisian waters when a fire broke out on board and was quickly extinguished. 

But the cause of the blaze remained in dispute, with Tunisian national guard spokesman Houcem Eddine Jebabli saying “no drones have been detected”.

Tunisian officials originally suggested that a fire broke out in the life jackets on board.

Reports of a drone are “completely unfounded”, the national guard said in a statement on its official Facebook page, suggesting that the fire may have been caused by a cigarette.

’100% a drone’

Security sources who have experience in dealing with ordnance told The Journal  that it may have been a drone, though it would likely have to be launched nearby, at it would be small.

These drones, used by Ukraine against against Russian forces in recent years, can carry a payload – possibly an explosive, or incendiary device.

Sources also suggested that, video of the incident pointed to the item being an illumination round rather than an explosive one, as no detonation could be seen.

Brazilian activist Thiago Avila posted a video on Instagram featuring testimony from another member of the flotilla who claimed to have seen a drone.

“It was 100 percent a drone that dropped a bomb,” the member says in the video.

Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, shared the security camera footage and called attention to the sound, explosion and calls for help by the boat’s crew.

“Draw your conclusions,” she wrote on X.

The Global Sumud Flotilla describes itself as an independent group not linked to any government or political party. Sumud means “resilience” in Arabic.

Among its high-profile participants is Greta Thunberg, who addressed pro-Palestinian campaigners in Tunisia on Sunday.

Israel has already blocked two attempts by activists to deliver aid by ship to Gaza, in June and July.

The United Nations declared a mad-made famine in parts of Gaza, warning that 500,000 people face “catastrophic” conditions.

Genocide scholars, several UN and EU officials and a number of aid organisations have said that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris have also both said that Israel’s actions constitute genocide.

Over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli actions since October 2023.

Additional reporting from Niall O’Connor and AFP