Major update after Greta Thunberg claims boat was bombed by drone while heading back to Gaza

A flotilla travelling towards Gaza carrying humanitarian aid with Swedish activist Greta Thunberg on board has claimed that one of their boats was struck by a suspected drone on Tunisian waters.

The flotilla - which was carrying food, water and medicine in what activists have said was the largest civilian maritime mission to Israel of the war so far - left Barcelona late last month (31 August).

However, just a matter of hours into the journey, the fleet of ships had to return to port due to the weather before resuming the journey two days later.

"We all know why we are here," said Thunberg, after arriving at the Tunisian port. "Just across the water, there’s a genocide going on, a mass starvation by Israel’s murder machine."

The Global Sumud Flotilla for Gaza (GSF), which is made up of about 20 vessels carrying pro-Palestinian activists from 44 nations, is trying to break Israel's naval blockade on the Gaza Strip.

Organisers have since issued a statement after one of the boats, which was carrying the flotilla’s steering committee, sustained fire damage to its main deck and below-deck storage on Monday night (8 September).

The GSF, which posted footage on Instagram that appeared to show the Portuguese-flagged vessel being hit by an object, 'confirms that one of the main boats... was struck by what is suspected to be a drone', they shared on social media.

Everyone on board was safe after the incident.

Over the weekend, the flotilla arrived in Tunisia and was anchored around 80km from the port of Sidi Bou Said when the incident allegedly took place.

Journalist Yusuf Omar, who is among the dozens of activists heading towards Gaza to try and break the Israeli blockade, explained on Instagram: "I was sleeping when I heard this explosion.

"A big explosion happened right next to our diesel tank. The neighbouring boats spotted a drone coming in. They said it flew above basically where I was sleeping, and then it went to the front and detonated."

Tunisian authorities have since claimed that such reports of a suspected drone attack on the flotilla 'had no basis in truth', adding an initial inspection indicated the explosion originated inside the vessel, per Reuters.

Tunisia’s national guard stated that their investigation was ongoing, but 'no drones have been detected'.

AFP news agency quoted Houcem Eddine Jebabli, a spokesperson for the national guard, as saying: "According to preliminary findings, a fire broke out in the life jackets on board a ship anchored 50 miles from the port of Sidi Bou Said."

Tunisian authorities have since suggested that the fire might have been caused by a cigarette.

The flotilla is set to arrive in Gaza later this month; however, Israeli forces are likely to intercept the boats before they can reach the Gaza Strip.