By Desmond Nleya
Activists on board the Global Sumud Flotilla, a Gaza-bound convoy carrying pro-Palestinian activists and aid, reported coming under drone attacks and explosions late Tuesday as the ships sailed off the coast of Greece.
In a statement, the flotilla organisers said: “Multiple drones, unidentified objects dropped, communications jammed and explosions heard from a number of boats.” They did not confirm whether there were any casualties.
“We are witnessing these psychological operations firsthand, right now, but we will not be intimidated,” the statement added.
Brazilian organiser Tiago Avila, wearing a life jacket, posted on Instagram around midnight Wednesday that at least 10 separate attacks had targeted multiple boats with sound bombs, explosive flares, and suspected chemical sprays.
US activist Greg Stoker, whose vessel was sailing off the coast of Crete, also described being targeted.
“Our boat was assailed by a quadcopter that dropped a little popper on deck. A couple of other boats experienced that as well. Our VHF radio was hijacked by adversarial comms, and they started playing Abba,” Stoker wrote on Instagram.
Israeli authorities have not publicly commented on the flotilla’s claims of drones, explosions, or communications interference.
Israel’s response
Earlier on Tuesday, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on X, claiming the flotilla’s boats were “pursuing a violent course of action,” accusing participants of serving Hamas rather than aiding Gaza’s civilian population.
The ministry urged the flotilla to hand over its cargo to Israeli authorities at Ashkelon Marina for coordinated delivery into Gaza. Flotilla organisers rejected the proposal.
“If the flotilla continues to reject Israel’s peaceful proposal, Israel will take the necessary measures to prevent its entry into the combat zone and to stop any violation of a lawful naval blockade, while making every possible effort to ensure the safety of its passengers,” the ministry’s statement read.
Avila dismissed the offer as “manipulation from the Zionist regime.”
“We can never believe an occupying force who is committing genocide that they will deliver aid – it’s not in their interests,” he said.
Flotilla mission
The Global Sumud Flotilla, made up of 51 boats, departed from the western Mediterranean earlier this month with the aim of breaking Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza and delivering humanitarian aid.
This is not the first time the convoy has been targeted. Organisers said two suspected drone attacks took place in Tunisia while the boats were anchored before resuming their voyage towards Gaza.
