Aid Flotilla Headed for Gaza Says It’s Under Drone Attack

A protest group on a flotilla of vessels headed for the shores of the Gaza Strip carrying humanitarian aid, over the objections of the Israeli government, said early on Wednesday that its communications had been jammed, drones had flown overhead and attacked, and that explosions were heard from some boats.

The boats are part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a group protesting Israel’s siege of the Gaza Strip with a mission to deliver food to the enclave amid the humanitarian crisis there. In recent days, it has been in conflict with the Israeli authorities, who have called on the flotilla to deliver the goods to Israel for transfer to Gaza. The group suggested in its social media posts that Israel could be involved in the latest attack on the flotilla.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In one post late on Tuesday, the group said drones had hovered over one boat for hours, “appearing roughly every 10 minutes.” It added, “We believe these drones are intended to intimidate, potentially gathering intelligence for Israel.”

Shortly afterward, the group said that explosions could be heard on a nearby boat, and communications were being jammed as drones flew overhead. The group suggested “Israel and its allies” were involved.

“We are witnessing these psychological operations firsthand, right now, but we will not be intimidated,” it said, pledging the ships would “continue to sail.”

One video posted by the group showed what appeared to be a flash bang accompanied by a loud explosion. Another video showed a flotilla passenger saying that at least four ships had been targeted with drones and that the attack was continuing.