Greta Thunberg's Gaza Flotilla Hit by Drone, Organisers Claim

But the cause of the blaze remained in dispute, with Tunisian national guard spokesman Houcem Eddine Jebabli saying “no drones have been detected”.

“According to preliminary findings, a fire broke out in the life jackets on board,” he told AFP news agency, adding the investigation was ongoing.

Reports of a drone are “completely unfounded”, the national guard said in a statement on its official Facebook page, suggesting that the fire may have been caused by a cigarette.

Brazilian activist Thiago Avila posted a video on Instagram featuring testimony from another member of the flotilla who claimed to have seen a drone.

“It was 100 per cent a drone that dropped a bomb,” the member says in the video.

Activist Yasemin Acar reporting after the attack on the @GlobalSumudFlot:

“A drone came right above it released a bomb and it exploded and the boat was on fire. Everyone is okay…they have bombed a boat once again with civilians on it, in Tunisian territory” pic.twitter.com/fxi8BHdXzw

— Assal Rad (@AssalRad) September 8, 2025

Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, shared the security camera footage and called attention to the sound, explosion and calls for help by the boat’s crew.

“Draw your conclusions,” she wrote on X.