Greta’s Flotilla Engulfed in Fire

Carrying Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and dozens of pro-Palestinian activists bound for Gaza, has ignited a storm of controversy after claiming its flagship “Family Boat” was struck by a drone in Tunisian waters early Tuesday morning.

Flotilla organizers say crew members heard buzzing “drone-like noises” circling overhead for several minutes before a fiery blast tore through the bow of the vessel. Activists screamed “We’ve been hit!” as flames spread, sparking panic among those onboard.

“This was a clear attempt to sabotage our mission of solidarity,” flotilla organizers posted on Instagram.

Tunisia: “No Drone Detected”

But Tunisian authorities flatly rejected the claim. The Tunisian National Guard issued a statement on Facebook calling reports of a drone strike “completely unfounded.”

Instead, investigators said, the fire likely started in life jackets on board the vessel, possibly caused by a lighter or cigarette butt.

Houcem Eddine Jebabli, a National Guard spokesman, told AFP:

“According to preliminary findings, a fire broke out in the life jackets on board a ship anchored 50 miles from Sidi Bou Said. No drone has been detected.”

Mission Still Alive?

The flotilla, which set sail from Barcelona on September 1, is comprised of several vessels carrying aid and activists aiming to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza.

After weather delays forced an earlier return to port, most of the ships are now staged off Tunisia’s coast, planning to depart toward Gaza on Wednesday.

The attack, or accident, has cast a shadow over the voyage, with critics accusing flotilla organizers of exaggeration, while supporters insist the timing of the fire is too suspicious to dismiss.

Greta in the Spotlight

Thunberg has been at the center of global attention since joining the mission. The strike, or mishap, has only fueled the drama surrounding the voyage, which some see as a humanitarian protest, and others as a political provocation.

Whether caused by a drone or a cigarette, the fire on the Family Boat has turned the flotilla into a flashpoint of international controversy, even before it reaches Gaza.