For the second night the flotilla was struck by incendiary devices, causing fire damage
Tadhg Hickey, a comedian from Co Cork; Tara Sheehy, from Co Tipperary; and Fra Hughes, from Belfast, are among international group travelling aboard the Alma as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla bound for Gaza.
Late on Tuesday, video footage emerged of flames on the boat after a device was dropped on to its top deck from a suspected drone during the night watch.
Remains of the incendiary device dropped on to the deck of the Alma
Today’s News in 90 Seconds, Wednesday, September 10
Activists supplied the Irish Independent with a photo of the charred device they say was dropped from the air.
The flotilla is trying to break the Israeli blockade on Gaza, and the aid boats are carrying food, including baby formula, and medicines.
On Monday night, the Family Boat, on which Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and other Palestine activists are travelling, was also attacked.
Video footage again showed a suspected drone dropping a device on to the top deck and starting a fire. The flotilla had been moored at Sidu Bou Said port in Tunisia.
The Global Movement to Gaza Éire said in a statement: “The remains of the burnt-out incendiary device used in last night’s attack have been recovered from the deck of the Alma, and there is footage of the attack as it occurred.
“An investigation is currently under way, and when more information is available it will be released immediately.
“We are issuing an urgent call on the Irish Government to make a statement calling for the safe passage of the flotilla and its participants to Gaza, ensuring a humanitarian corridor is opened.
“The Irish Government has a duty to uphold international law and protect Irish citizens.
“Attacks on Irish citizens or any of the flotilla’s vessels and the forced starvation of the people of Gaza are all breaches of international law. Therefore, the Irish Government has a responsibility to act accordingly.”
Support us. Raise the alarm. Raise awareness. But make sure you keep focus on Palestine
Writing on social media, Mr Hickey said: “Looking forward to the Irish Government’s condemnation of this attempt on my life last night.”
He tagged Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris in his post on X and attached a video of the boat ablaze.
“Support us. Raise the alarm. Raise awareness. But make sure you keep focus on Palestine as well. Whatever happens to us here, we are not the story. Palestine is the story,” he wrote.
The Global Movement to Gaza Éire added: “This marks the second such attack in two days. These repeat attacks come during intensified Israeli aggression on Palestinians in Gaza and are an orchestrated attempt to distract and derail our mission.
“The Global Sumud Flotilla continues undeterred. Our peaceful voyage to break Israel’s illegal siege on Gaza and stand in unwavering solidarity with its people presses forward with determination and resolve.”
On Tuesday, Israel ordered one million Palestinians to leave Gaza city before a land invasion by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).
An IDF spokesperson said it was determined to defeat Hamas and that it would “operate in the Gaza city area with great force, just as it did throughout the Strip”.
Palestinian people in Gaza are pleading for international help as Israel continues to annex the enclave.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said that it “continues to monitor closely developments in relation to the flotilla”.