A ship belonging to the Global Sumud Flotilla, an international initiative aiming to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, reported it was struck by a drone late Monday night off the Tunisian coast.

The vessel Familia Madeira, carrying crew and members of the March to Gaza coordination committee, was sailing from Spain when the alleged attack occurred about 50 miles from the port of Sidi Bou Said, according to a statement shared on Telegram and Instagram. The group said all six people on board were unharmed but the ship sustained material damage.

The report was also echoed by Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian Territories, who confirmed the incident in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

However, Tunisian authorities denied the claims. National Guard spokesperson Houssem Eddine Jebabli said no drones were detected in the area, insisting that a fire broke out on life jackets aboard the ship and may have been caused by a discarded cigarette. The National Guard dismissed the drone claims as “unfounded” in a statement published on Facebook.

A journalist from Agence France-Presse who visited the port of Sidi Bou Said on Tuesday saw the Familia Madeira surrounded by other vessels but reported no visible signs of fire.

The flotilla remains docked in Tunisia. Its organizers say their mission is to challenge the blockade of Gaza by sailing civilian ships loaded with humanitarian aid.