09.09.2025 08:44
On August 31, a drone attack was carried out on the main vessel of the Global Sumud Fleet, which set sail from Spain to break the blockade on Gaza, at a port in Tunisia. It was reported that part of the ship caught fire during the attack. Activist Yasemin Acar, who was on the ship along with Turkish individuals, stated that they would continue towards Gaza and planned to set sail on Wednesday.
The United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Palestine, Francesca Albanese, made a statement regarding the Global Sumud Fleet, which set sail from Spain on August 31 to break the Israeli blockade, via the US-based X company's social media platform. Albanese stated that a drone attack was carried out on the main vessel of the fleet at the port in Tunisia and expressed that the other two boats moving towards the port needed urgent protection.
"PART OF THE SHIP CAUGHT FIRE"
In a live broadcast on social media, Vail Nevvar, a member of the Executive of the Global Sumud Fleet's Tunisia Declaration, stated that a drone attack was carried out on one of the boats coming from Spain.
The statement said, "A drone attack was carried out on the Spanish ship belonging to the Global Sumud Fleet at the Port of Sidi Bou Said in Tunisia, and part of the ship caught fire. According to information we received from activists on the boat, a substance that could start a fire was thrown from a drone onto the boat."
NO STATEMENT FROM TUNISIA
Security forces, who took security measures in the port area, closed the port to vehicle and human entry. No statement has been made by Tunisian authorities regarding the attack.
SUMUD FLEET PLANS TO DEPART FROM TUNIS ON WEDNESDAY
After the ships that set sail from Spain arrived off the coast of Tunisia on September 7, Nevvar stated, "It will take about two days for all the boats from Spain to arrive. The boats coming from Spain will set sail from Tunisia on Wednesday together with the boats that will join from Tunisia. Our journey to Gaza will continue with the boats that will join from here in the open waters of Italy."
YASEMİN ACAR: WE WILL CONTINUE TOWARDS GAZA
Yasemin Acar, one of the Turkish activists in the fleet, made evaluations to NTV regarding the attack. Acar stated that everyone was in good condition, saying, "Unfortunately, we had to evacuate all the activists from the ships. We are currently placing everyone in hotels. The police are keeping our ships under surveillance."
Acar also commented on who might have carried out the attack, stating, "This drone definitely came from Israel. Because this evening, Israel sent a plane again, just like they did in Malta, and carried out the attack in the same way." Acar mentioned that fuel was being transported at the front of the boats and suggested that Israel might have planned a major explosion knowing this.
Acar expressed that Israel was sending them a message of 'Don't come' by carrying out this attack, stating that they would continue on their way, that they were carrying humanitarian aid, and that they wanted to break the blockade. Acar confirmed that they would continue towards Gaza and that they still planned to set sail on Wednesday.
THERE ARE TURKISH ACTIVISTS ON THE SHIP
Since September 1, around 150 activists from different countries, including dozens of Turks, have been preparing to board the boats to join the Global Sumud Fleet from Tunisia.
Sumud, which means "steadfastness" or "unyielding determination" in Arabic, has become a term that describes the oppression and resistance among the Palestinian people after the Six-Day War in 1967. The concept of Sumud expresses the search for ways to resist occupation and build alternative institutions through remaining on their land, keeping Palestinian identity and culture alive, and non-violent civil disobedience. In Palestine, the olive tree and a pregnant peasant woman are used to depict this concept.