A boat carrying Greta Thunberg towards Gaza has reportedly been set ablaze in a suspected drone strike off the coast of North Africa. 

The 22-year-old Swedish climate activist is currently part of a contentious group of around 350 advocates and humanitarian volunteers on a ship, which they claim is a ‘peaceful mission’ aimed at delivering supplies to people in Gaza.

However, recent reports indicate that one of the vessels, known as the Family Boat, which is flying a Portuguese flag and includes members of the flotilla’s Steering Committee such as Greta, was allegedly attacked ‘by a drone and subsequently caught fire’ near the North African coast.

A gripping video shared by fellow activist Yasemin Acar on Instagram captured the scene after the event. She announced: ‘The Family boat has officially been attacked – a drone hovered above it, dropped an explosive device, causing it to catch fire. Fortunately, everyone aboard is safe, and the fire has been extinguished.’

She added that the ship, which was sailing in Tunisian waters, carried many of the same people who were detained with Greta during an earlier attempt to reach Gaza in June.

‘They have bombed a boat with civilians on it in Tunisian territory. This is an attack against Gaza because they don’t want us there. So we need you to mobilise. Let’s not stay quiet,’ she said.

The boat reportedly only incurred minor damage.  

The boat carrying Greta Thunberg has been ‘set on fire by a drone’, witnesses have reported

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg waves from a boat taking part in a civilian flotilla bound for Gaza, aiming to break the Israeli blockade

The boat reportedly only incurred minor damage

Map showing the last location of the Family Boat which Greta and other activists are travelling on 

The convoy first tried to leave on Sunday but returned to port because of stormy weather

The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), the group behind the mission, later confirmed the suspected attack, saying in a statement: ‘The Global Sumud Flotilla confirms that one of the main boats, known as the ‘Family Boat’ – that was carrying GSF Steering Committee members – was struck by what is suspected to be a drone. 

‘The boat was under the Portuguese flag and all passengers and crew are safe. An investigation is currently underway and when more information is available it will be released immediately.

‘Acts of aggression aimed at intimidating and derailing our mission will not deter us. Our peaceful mission to break the siege on Gaza and stand in solidarity with its people continues with determination and resolve.’

While no nation has officially claimed responsibility for the incident, Israel has previously described the flotilla’s volunteers as ‘terrorists’, warning that they would be subject to arrest if they attempted to breach the naval blockade.

Speaking from Tunisia on Sunday, where she was welcomed by cheering crowds in the port of Sidi Bou Said as their boat docked there, she declared: ‘We all know why we are here. Just across the water there’s a genocide going on, a mass starvation by Israel’s murder machine.’

It comes after a number of drones were spotted flying over the Global Sumud Flotilla a week ago. 

Speaking in another Instagram video, Yasemin said: ‘We have detected the first drones…From what we can tell and the information we are getting, every boat right now in the flotilla has a drone above them.’

Her video address came as the flotilla was around 90 nautical miles from the Spanish island of Menorca.

‘We are watching them very closely trying to figure out which drones they are and what they are here for’, she added.

It comes after Greta was deported by Israel back in June when the ship she was traveling on with 11 other people, the Madleen, was stopped by the Israeli military.

At the time, Israel was accused of using drones to spray an irritant substance on Greta’s flotilla before boarding and detaining her and other activists.

Pictures from the Sidi Bou Said port in Tunisia on Sunday showed huge crowds had gathered around the 22-year-old as she docked in their port on route, she said: ‘We all know why were are here’

Thunberg was seen taking pictures as she waited to depart on board a vessel with fellow campaigners 

Greta Thunberg pictured in the early morning of Monday, June 9, 2025, after the Israeli Defense Forces boarded the ‘Madleen’, a small civilian maritime vessel previously bound for Gaza with humanitarian aid, and rerouted those on board toward Israel

Greta Thunberg’s aid flotilla headed for Gaza was targeted by drones overnight, according to reports. Pictured: Greta Thunberg attends the press conference prior to the flotilla depart on August 31, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain

Images showed the deck splattered with an unidentified white liquid. Activist Yasmin Acar, among the 12 on board, said it had been deployed by Israel and was affecting her eyes.

Despite her deportation in June, the activist has shown no signs of backing down as she departed from Barcelona on the Global Sumud flotilla on Sunday to deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinian enclave.

The maritime convoy of about 20 boats and delegations from 44 countries is claimed to be the largest attempt to date to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip by sea, which has now lasted 18 years.

They will be joined by more ships from ports in Italy and Tunisia in the coming days, on the route from the western end of the Mediterranean to the Gaza Strip.

This comes as Israel has stepped up its offensive on Gaza city, limiting the deliveries of food and basic supplies in the north of the Palestinian territory.

Food experts warned last month that the city was in famine and that half a million people across the strip were facing catastrophic levels of hunger.

The Global Sumud Flotilla is carrying food, water and medicine. Activists on board demanded safe passage to deliver the much-needed aid and the opening of a humanitarian sea corridor, according to a statement.