AFP Asia Business

Organisers of a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying aid and pro-Palestinian activists said late Monday that one of their boats was hit by a suspected UAV off the coast of Tunisia, but authorities there said “no drones” had been detected.The flotilla, which aims to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, arrived in Tunisia over the weekend and was anchored off the coast of Sidi Bou Said when it reported the incident.”The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) confirms that one of the main boats… was struck by what is suspected to be a drone,” the organisers said on social media, adding no one was hurt. They shared security camera footage from the boat in which a humming sound can be heard, before a flash of light illuminates the frame.The vessel was in Tunisian waters when a fire broke out on board and was quickly extinguished, according to an AFP journalist who arrived shortly after the flames had been doused.But the cause of the blaze remained in dispute, with Tunisian national guard spokesman Houcem Eddine Jebabli saying “no drones have been detected”.”According to preliminary findings, a fire broke out in the life jackets on board,” he told AFP, adding the investigation was ongoing.Reports of a drone are “completely unfounded”, the national guard said in a statement on its official Facebook page, suggesting that the fire may have been caused by a cigarette.- ‘100% a drone’ -Brazilian activist Thiago Avila posted a video on Instagram featuring testimony from another member of the flotilla who claimed to have seen a drone.”It was 100 percent a drone that dropped a bomb,” the member says in the video.The Israeli military did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment.Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, shared the security camera footage and called attention to the sound, explosion and calls for help by the boat’s crew.”Draw your conclusions,” she wrote on X.The Global Sumud Flotilla describes itself as an independent group not linked to any government or political party. Sumud means “resilience” in Arabic.Among its high-profile participants is Greta Thunberg, who addressed pro-Palestinian campaigners in Tunisia on Sunday.Israel has already blocked two attempts by activists to deliver aid by ship to Gaza, in June and July.The United Nations declared a state of famine in parts of Gaza, warning that 500,000 people face “catastrophic” conditions.

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 04:53:20 GMT

A major arms fair opens Tuesday in London without the presence of Israeli government officials due to worsening diplomatic relations between Britain and Israel over the Gaza conflict.UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration excluded the officials from the four-day event, but not the 51 Israeli defence companies that are set to attend including major arms manufacturer Elbit.State-owned Rafael and Israel Aerospace Industries will also have exhibitions, making Israel the fifth-largest national contingent after the UK, United States, Australia and Germany.A coalition of more than 100 grassroots organisations and activist groups, including supporters of the Palestinians and anti-arms protestors, are expected to descend on the Excel London exhibition centre in the British capital, which is hosting the biennial DSEI UK trade fair.Israeli companies exhibiting “should be investigated for crimes against humanity, not invited to profit from the unspeakable devastation they have caused in Gaza”, Campaign Against Arms Trade spokesperson Emily Apple said in a statement.Britain’s defence ministry announced at the end of August that no Israeli government delegation had been invited, citing Israel’s “decision to further escalate its military operation in Gaza”, where Israel is battling to crush Hamas militants.Israel slammed the exclusion of its officials from the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) fair as “discrimination”.- Israeli president visits -At the same time, Israeli President Isaac Herzog is due in London on Tuesday for a three-day official visit “to show solidarity with the Jewish community, which is under severe attack and facing a wave of antisemitism”, his office said Monday.The arms fair “includes unrivalled access to international governments, ministries of defence… alongside all UK front line commands”, according to the DSEI UK website.A record number of exhibitors and visitors are expected at the event, as global conflicts including the Russia-Ukraine war have prompted European and other governments to ramp up military spending.France, which is also represented at the show, had in June blocked access to the stands of several Israeli arms manufacturers at the Paris Air show for displaying what it termed “offensive weapons”.Labour leader Starmer has said Britain will formally recognise a Palestinian state later this month if Israel does not take steps, including agreeing to a ceasefire in the Gaza war, which was sparked by the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023.London has suspended trade talks with Israel over the conflict, as well as some export licences for arms used in Gaza, but some UK-made parts, such as components for Israeli F-35 jets, are still exported.