TUNISIA – A vessel transporting Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla caught fire in what is believed to have been a drone attack near the North African coast late on Monday.
This convoy was en route to Gaza to provide humanitarian supplies, attempting to challenge Israel’s naval blockade. The incident, happening near the Tunisian port of Sidi Bou Said, has drawn global attention. Campaigners argue the attack was an attempt to stop their mission.
The boat, registered under the Portuguese flag as “Family Boat”, carried central members of the flotilla’s management group, including Thunberg. All those on board escaped injury, and the fire left only minor damage, according to the Daily Mail.
The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), which coordinates a fleet of about 20 boats from 44 nations, confirmed the event. “The ‘Family Boat’, which held key members of the GSF Steering Committee, was hit in a suspected drone attack,” the flotilla said in a statement. They added that crew and passengers were unharmed, the fire was put out swiftly, and a full investigation is underway.
Aboard the “Family Boat”, activist Yasemin Acar posted a video on Instagram. “A drone flew overhead, dropped an explosive, then the boat caught fire. Everyone’s safe. The fire’s been put out,” she reported. She described the incident as an attempt to block aid for Gaza.
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Liam Cunningham, an actor known from Game of Thrones and also onboard, wrote online that, “THE ISRAELIS HAVE ATTACKED THE FLOTILLA MAIN BOAT IN TUNISIAN TERRITORY!” However, Tunisia’s National Guard cast doubt on these allegations. Their early review suggested the blaze may have started inside, possibly involving life jackets, and they said there was no evidence of drones.
The flotilla set out from Barcelona on 31 August 2025, loaded with food, water, and medicines for Gaza. Many on board called it the largest effort yet to challenge 18 years of blockade, though a recent stretch of bad weather had temporarily delayed their progress.
Greta Thunberg had previously tried to reach Gaza by sea. In June 2025, she joined 12 activists on the British-flagged yacht Madleen, organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. This attempt was meant to deliver aid and protest Israel’s blockade. Israeli authorities intercepted the vessel about 115 miles off Gaza, according to the coalition.
Reports from the group described quadcopter drones circling them, an unknown substance sprayed onto the deck, and communications blocked before Israeli forces boarded. In a pre-recorded video, Greta Thunberg said that the group had been “kidnapped” and urged supporters to pressure Swedish officials for their release.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry called the trip a “selfie yacht”, suggesting it only carried symbolic aid. They stated the activists were detained, given food and water, then deported. Thunberg was flown to France, then returned to Sweden.
She accused Israel of “illegally kidnapping” the group. Israel rejected her claim, saying the blockade matches international law. The episode drew criticism from groups like Amnesty International, which said Israel’s actions breached requirements to give humanitarian access to Gaza.
Changing Focus of Greta Thunberg
Greta Thunberg, once known mainly for her environmental activism, has recently taken a strong public stance against Israeli policies. Since the October 2023 Israel-Hamas war started, her focus has turned towards showing support for Palestinians.
Before the Global Sumud Flotilla sailed, Greta Thunberg told the press in Barcelona, “This story is about Palestine and people being deliberately denied the basics needed to live.”
Her shift has triggered a backlash on social media, with many accusing her of leaving behind the climate movement to focus on an “anti-Israel agenda”. Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas, questioned why Greta Thunberg hadn’t spoken up about Hamas’s attack on 7 October 2023, which killed 1,200 Israelis and led to 251 hostages being taken.
Other online voices, like user @OliLondonTV, called her repeated attempts to reach Gaza “publicity stunts”. Israel’s foreign minister, Israel Katz, branded her an “antisemite” and suggested she should view footage of the Hamas attacks.
Despite the criticism, Greta Thunberg’s supporters hail her efforts as brave. Online, users like @zei_squirrel have praised her willingness to put herself at risk for the Palestinian cause. Francesca Albanese, the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, who was in Tunisia at the time, demanded extra safeguards for the remaining flotilla boats.
Background on the Gaza Blockade
Israel has blocked Gaza by sea since 2007, aiming to keep weapons from reaching Hamas. Recent fighting, after Hamas’s October 2023 attack, has tightened these restrictions further. Gaza now faces major shortages of basics like food, water, and medicine.
Health authorities in Gaza report more than 54,000 deaths since the flare-up, and at least half a million people are now in famine conditions. Israel has offered to let aid through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, but critics such as the UN say this system is neither adequate nor neutral.
The Sumud Flotilla brings together activists from across the globe who see their journey as an act of peaceful solidarity. Israel continues to argue that such missions only serve Hamas’s interests. Memories of the 2010 Mavi Marmara tragedy, where nine activists died after Israeli forces raided a Gaza-bound ship, serve as a stark warning about the risks flotillas face.
As the investigation into what happened to the “Family Boat” continues, the Global Sumud Flotilla remains committed to its goal. “Aggression designed to scare us off will not stop our work,” their team declared.
Greta Thunberg, not discouraged by past detentions or the recent fire, keeps drawing attention to Gaza’s crisis. Tunisia’s officials deny any drone involvement, so there are still questions about who was responsible, with no statement so far from Israel or others.
This incident brings to light the challenging mix of activism, aid work, and geopolitics. Greta Thunberg’s move from climate action to support for Gaza has divided opinion globally. As the Sumud Flotilla keeps moving forward, the world is watching to see if this event will slow them down or make them even more determined to reach Gaza.
