On September 9, the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) – a civilian-led maritime convoy aimed at delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza – backed by DiEM25 and our member Melanie Schweizer, suffered a drone strike to its flagship vessel while docked at Tunisia’s Sidi Bou Said port.

The Portuguese-flagged ‘Family Boat’ that is carrying the steering committee of the flotilla sustained fire damage on its main deck and below-deck storage area. Fortunately, all six crew and passengers on board have escaped unharmed. The flotilla released compelling footage of a luminous object descending toward the ship, triggering the blaze.

Despite the attack, the flotilla remains unwavering and an investigation is underway. What is certain, as iterated by the organisers, is that such intimidation efforts will not derail our peaceful mission.

The flotilla is part of a solidarity movement involving delegations from 44 countries, featuring figures like Greta Thunberg and Mariana Mortágua, leader of Portugal’s Left Bloc.

Mortágua has committed herself to this act of solidarity, yet the Portuguese government has announced it will provide no diplomatic support to her or other Portuguese participants – effectively abandoning its own citizens in deference to its alignment with Israel’s policies. 

This move demonstrates the gulf between grassroots movements of conscience and governments complicit in the ongoing genocide of Gaza.

As the convoy prepares to set sail toward Gaza, crowds at the Tunisian port rallied in solidarity, waving Palestinian flags and chanting “Free Palestine”.

Through our Freedom Flotilla initiative, we have been a vocal and consistent backer of these maritime solidarity actions. The humanitarian effort is a peaceful act of disobedience against a policy that is illegal under international law, and will not be cowed by these despicable yet, unfortunately, unsurprising acts.

We condemn the cowardly attack and will persist

This drone strike targeting an unarmed humanitarian vessel is deeply troubling and must be unequivocally condemned. Whether the cause was hostile action or negligence, the very fact that civilian activists engaged in non-violent, internationally recognised relief efforts were endangered raises alarming questions about respect for humanitarian principles and international law.

Such an act is not only an attack on peaceful activism but also an assault on human rights. We as DiEM25 and those involved in the efforts, including Melanie Schweizer, and will continue to amplify this flotilla’s mission and demand accountability and urgent protection for all civilians undertaking such vital humanitarian work.

In standing with the Global Sumud Flotilla, we honour the courage of those refusing to stand by while Gaza’s people suffer under siege, and we reaffirm our shared commitment to justice, solidarity, and the inviolable laws that protect human dignity.

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