At the Port of Sidi Bou Said in Tunisia, a blaze erupted aboard a boat destined for Gaza early on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. The vessel, known as the “Family Boat,” is part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a maritime convoy led by activists including Greta Thunberg who seek to deliver humanitarian aid to the war-torn Gaza Strip. The group asserts the fire was the result of a drone strike; Tunisian officials insist otherwise.
In a striking statement released in the hours following the incident, the flotilla’s organizers reported that the “Family Boat,” flying under a Portuguese flag and carrying members of the flotilla’s steering committee, had been struck by a drone while docked and stationary in Tunisian waters. They posted video footage that appears to show a flash of light falling from the sky and striking the deck of the boat, followed swiftly by flames breaking out onboard. Despite the sudden fire, no injuries were reported among the six people aboard.
The Global Sumud Flotilla—also known as “Steadfastness”—had arrived in Tunisia after departing from Barcelona with a cohort of activists, artists, doctors, politicians, and humanitarians representing at least 44 countries, all converging to challenge Israel’s maritime blockade of Gaza and draw global attention to the region’s humanitarian crisis. The convoy offers supplies such as food, medicine, and water as a symbol of solidarity.
Yet the narrative offered by Tunisian authorities diverges sharply from that of the flotilla. The Interior Ministry issued a forceful denial of any drone involvement, stating there had been no detection of unmanned aerial vehicles in the area during the incident. Authorities insisted that initial findings suggest the fire originated internally, possibly sparked by a cigarette in a cluster of life jackets onboard. They confirmed that a formal investigation is underway.