Gaza aid flotilla carrying multiple Irish activists reports second drone attack at Tunisian port

Multiple Irish activists were on board a Gaza aid flotilla boat that was reportedly attacked last night at a Tunisian port, the second strike in two days.

International aid initiative Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) said in a statement this morning that one of its main boats, which was on its way to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, was struck by a drone. GSF confirmed that no one was hurt, though the boat "sustained fire damage on its top deck."

The British-flagged "Alma" boat was carrying Cork comedian and activist Tadhg Hickey, along with Greta Thunberg and several other activists.

Hickey posted the boat's CCTV footage of the attack on Instagram, in which a high-pitched noise is heard as a large object strikes the boat and a fire breaks out.

 

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A post shared by Tadhg Hickey (@tadhghickeycml)

Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, posted the same footage and wrote, "video evidence suggests that a drone - with no light so it could not be seen - dropped a device" which caused the fire.

Tunisian authorities claimed "no drones" had been detected immediately after the attack, but security sources later told press that, based on the video evidence, a drone may have been responsible.

Novelist Naoise Dolan, human rights activist Caoimhe Butterly (who has written about Gaza for Hot Press), poet Sarah Clancy, Senator Chris Andrews, TD Paul Murphy, TD Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh and Lynn Boylan MEP are among the other Irish participants in the flotilla.

Dolan posted a statement after the strike, writing that the participation of three members of the Oireachtas makes it "particularly impressive" that the Irish government has yet to speak about the attack.

"We still have an ambassador in Israel who has said nothing; nor has the Irish government," Dolan said.

"This does not surprise me: the way governments treat Palestinians is how they would treat everyone else if they thought they could get away with it. Please apply all the pressure you can on yours to defend the rights and safety of Palestinians along with the flotilla."

GSF wrote that their "peaceful voyage" will continue as planned "with determination and resolve."