An international activist group says a boat in its flotilla was hit by a drone while docked in Tunisia

A protester waves a Palestinian flag in support of the the Global Sumud Flotilla as it arrives at the port of Sidi Bou Saïd, in Tunis, Tunisia, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Anis Mili)

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — An international activist group seeking to deliver aid to Gaza on a flotilla says one of its boats was hit by what it believes was a drone while docked in Tunisia. Tunisian authorities denied a drone was involved, and said they are investigating a fire in a life jacket aboard the boat.

The Global Sumud Flotilla said in a statement overnight that a vessel known as the “Family Boat” and traveling under a Portuguese flag “was struck by a drone,” but that no one aboard was hurt.

Footage posted on the group's social media showed a flash of light landing on one of the boats and setting off what appears to be a fire.

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Tunisian people chant in support of the the Global Sumud Flotilla as it arrives at the port of Sidi Bou Saïd, in Tunis, Tunisia, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Anis Mili)

The group, whose flotilla was scheduled to leave Tunisia on Wednesday, is expected to give a news conference in Tunis later Tuesday about what happened. It said the incident would not derail its mission to deliver aid to Gaza.

The flotilla is part of a broad movement seeking to deliver aid to Gaza by boat.

The Tunisian Interior Ministry said in a statement that reports about a drone attack were unfounded, and that specialized security units are investigating the results of a fire in a life jacket.

The Israeli military and Israeli government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.