The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) reported being targeted by at least 13 explosions in international waters as they drew nearer to the Gaza Strip early Wednesday morning.
The United Nations called Wednesday for an investigation into alleged drone “attacks” against a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, saying anyone responsible for the “violations” should be held accountable.
Over the past few hours, more than 15 drones have hovered above the Alma boat at low altitudes, appearing roughly every 10 minutes.
“There must be an independent, impartial and thorough investigation into the reported attacks and harassment by drones and other objects” on the Global Sumud Flotilla, which said a dozen explosions were heard around its ships late Tuesday, UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said in a statement.
In a press release from the GSF, the activist group accused the Israeli government and the IDF of “an alarmingly dangerous escalation.” There has been no official confirmation of Israel’s involvement.
The flotilla stated that 15 drones had been flying at low altitudes, passing over the fleet’s vessels multiple times throughout the night, and alleged that unidentified objects were dropped on 10 of the boats by the drones.
A spokesperson for the flotilla also claimed that their radios were hijacked by “adversarial comms” to play music from the Swedish pop band ABBA in what the spokesperson referred to as a “psychological operation.”
GSF has accused Israel of launching a “coordinated smear campaign” against the flotilla after Israeli officials referred to it as the “Hamas Flotilla.”
Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli recently released a report documenting ties between flotilla leaders and terrorist organizations Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood
According to the Israeli Foreign Military, the flotilla was offered an opportunity to dock and unload its cargo at the Ashkelon Marina.
The flotilla refused and continued sailing towards the Gaza Strip. The Foreign Ministry called the move “the illegal path - sailing into a combat zone and breaching the lawful naval blockade.”
On September 10, the flotilla reported another two drone attacks while docked at a port in Tunisia. The Tsunisian government investigated and asserted that the incidents were likely accidental fires.
In response to the group's claims, UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said in a statement, "Attacks and threats against those trying to deliver aid to and support the hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza who are suffering famine and starvation defy belief.
"There must be an independent, impartial and thorough investigation into the reported attacks and harassment by drones and other objects against the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla. Such attacks must stop, and those responsible for violations must be held to account."
"As the occupying power, Israel must ensure food and medical supplies for the population to the fullest extent of the means available, or to agree to and facilitate impartial humanitarian relief schemes, delivered rapidly and without hindrance. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk calls on Israel to urgently lift the blockade on Gaza and allow the entry of life-saving material through all means possible."
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto on Wednesday strongly condemned an overnight attack on an international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza.
In a statement, Crosetto also said he had redirected an Italian navy ship to head toward the flotilla to possibly offer assistance.Organizers of the Gaza-bound flotilla said late Tuesday they heard explosions and saw multiple drones that targeted some of their boats, currently situated off Greece.
“Multiple drones, unidentified objects dropped, communications jammed and explosions heard from a number of boats,” the Global Sumud Flotilla said in a statement, without adding whether there were any casualties.
“We are witnessing these psychological operations firsthand, right now, but we will not be intimidated,” the statement said.
German human rights activist and flotilla member Yasemin Acar said in a video she posted on Instagram that five vessels had been attacked.
“We are carrying only humanitarian aid,” she said. “We have no weapons. We pose no threat to anyone. It is Israel who is killing thousands of people (and) starving a whole population.”
In an earlier video, Acar said the activists had “sighted 15 to 16 drones,” adding that their radios had been jammed as loud music could be heard. One video posted by the flotilla’s official Instagram page showed an explosion it said it recorded from the Spectre boat at “01:43 GMT +3.”
In another video posted by the same page, Brazilian activist Thiago Avila said four boats had been “targeted with drones throwing devices” just before another explosion was heard in the background.
The Global Sumud Flotilla set sail from Barcelona earlier this month with the aim of breaking Israel’s blockade of Gaza and delivering aid to the territory.
It currently numbers 51 vessels, most of which are situated off the Greek island of Crete.
It had already been targeted in two suspected drone attacks in Tunisia, where its boat had been anchored before resuming its voyage toward Gaza.
Among its high-profile participants is environmental activist Greta Thunberg.
Israel said Monday it would not allow the boats to reach Gaza.
Israel blocked two earlier attempts by activists to reach Gaza by sea in June and July.
Israel has come under huge international pressure over its war in Gaza, which has sparked a dire humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory.
Last month, a body backed by the United Nations officially declared famine in part of Gaza.
And on September 16, UN investigators accused Israel of committing “genocide” in the besieged territory, nearly two years after the war erupted following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.