Did Israel target the Resilience Fleet in Tunisia?

The fire that broke out on the main ship of the Global Solidarity Fleet, which aims to break the siege on Gaza, off the coast of Tunisia early Tuesday morning sparked widespread outrage on social media platforms.

Thiago Avila, a member of the fleet's management, stated that the 'Family' ship was targeted by a burning drone while sailing near Tunisia, and there were several team members on board, but they were unharmed.

The fleet's media committee published a video clip claiming it documents the moment the ship was targeted, while the spokesperson for the 'Solidarity Fleet,' Saif Abu Kashk, confirmed that the fleet would continue its journey despite the attack.

In contrast, the Tunisian police announced that they managed to control and extinguish the fire, indicating that the blaze did not result in any injuries. Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Tunisian National Guard stated that the fire was caused by an internal malfunction, suggesting it might have been due to a life jacket catching fire, denying any hostile act or external targeting.

However, this official narrative was met with widespread skepticism from activists, some of whom suggested that the drone was launched from a nearby location, possibly even from within Tunisia itself, describing the incident as an 'intelligence operation' reminiscent of the assassination of engineer Mohamed Zouari years ago.

Others pointed to new clips they claimed show that the targeting occurred from above by a drone, rather than as a result of an internal malfunction as stated by Tunisian authorities.

Twitter users and bloggers expressed their strong condemnation of the attack, describing the occupation as a 'rogue, savage state that understands only the language of killing,' and that targeting a humanitarian ship off Tunisia is 'additional evidence of its brutality.'

One user wrote: 'They will not be deterred by acts of aggression aimed at intimidating them and thwarting their mission; their peaceful mission to break the siege on Gaza continues with determination and resolve.'

Another activist added: 'Even the Family ship was not spared from targeting, but they are unaware that what it carries is greater than iron and wood; it carries the will of the unyielding peoples.'

Meanwhile, others emphasized that the attack is merely a desperate attempt to intimidate the supporters and break the symbolism of unity around Gaza, but every bullet aimed at a humanitarian ship 'fires back a thousand cries for freedom.'

Some Twitter users noted that the targeting of the first ship from the 'Solidarity Fleet' by an Israeli drone near the shores of Tunisia reveals the 'fragility of the Israeli entity that could not bear to see civilian boats loaded with bread and medicine.'

They argued that the fleet does not only transport supplies but also creates a global public opinion that poses a painful question: how can an entire army fear civilian ships?

Activists confirmed that the occupation understands the danger of this public opinion more than the danger of missiles, and therefore seeks to 'assassinate it before it is born,' at a time when the genocide against Gaza has continued for more than 22 months in front of the world's eyes amid complete international silence.