A dramatic incident off the coast of Tunisia has placed Swedish activist Greta Thunberg at the center of new international controversy. Reports from Middle Eastern outlets claim a drone strike hit a vessel carrying some of her volunteers in a flotilla attempting to bring aid to Gaza.
According to organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla, the strike targeted the “Family Boat,” the lead craft in the mission, which was operating under a Portuguese flag. The group said the boat was carrying food, medical supplies, and several members of its Steering Committee when flames engulfed its main deck and storage area.
The Global Sumud Flotilla has now confirmed that one of their main boats was struck by a drone in Tunisian waters. All the passengers and crew are safe. @Kieran_Andrieu reports from the Port of Tunis. pic.twitter.com/geOCFMliww
— Novara Media (@novaramedia) September 9, 2025
Thunberg, now 22, was leading the flotilla of 20 boats, which set sail on August 31 in what organizers called the “largest solitary mission” to deliver aid to Palestinians. At the time of the strike, Thunberg and other Steering Committee members were at port in Sidi Bou Said, meaning she was not aboard the targeted vessel. Organizers confirmed that all six passengers on the ship survived unharmed.
Footage circulating online shows a sudden burst of light and then flames erupting on the vessel as panicked voices cry out, “There’s a fire on the front deck!” The video quickly spread across social media, fueling speculation over which country or group may have been responsible.
Israel had previously warned Thunberg that she could face arrest if her flotilla attempted to breach restrictions near Gaza. An Israeli newspaper reported that authorities had prepared to intercept the boats and place passengers in “terrorist-level” detention centers if they disobeyed orders.
The Global Sumud Flotilla released a statement vowing to continue. “Acts of aggression aimed at intimidating and derailing our mission will not deter us. Our peaceful mission to break the siege on Gaza and stand in solidarity with its people continues with determination and resolve,” the group said, according to the New York Post.
Thunberg herself has described the effort as “part of a global uprising of people standing up” against what she called atrocities in Gaza.
Uncertainty remains over what exactly hit the boat. Tunisian authorities told the BBC that they detected “no drone” in the area at the time of the blast. David Heathcote of McKenzie Intelligence Services suggested video evidence shows the object may have been dropped from above, possibly by a drone hovering over the ship before releasing its payload.
For now, the attack is under investigation, but it has only intensified the political storm surrounding Thunberg’s highly publicized mission.
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