A boat carrying Greta Thunberg towards Gaza has been set ablaze in a suspected drone strike off the coast of North Africa, witnesses have said.

The 22-year-old Swedish climate firebrand is part of a controversial convoy of around 350 activists and aid workers, sailing on what they describe as a ‘peaceful mission’ to deliver supplies to Palestinians in Gaza.

But reports have emerged overnight that one of the vessels – the so-called Family Boat, flying under a Portuguese flag and carrying members of the flotilla’s Steering Committee, including Greta – was attacked ‘by a drone and caught fire’ off the coast of North Africa.

A dramatic video posted by fellow activist Yasemin Acar on Instagram showed the aftermath of the incident, as she declared: ‘The Family boat has been officially attacked – a drone came right above it, released a bomb and it exploded and the boat was on fire. Everyone on that boat is ok. The fire is out.’

She added that the ship, which was sailing in Tunisian waters, carried many of the same people who were detained with Greta during an earlier attempt to reach Gaza in June.

‘They have bombed a boat with civilians on it in Tunisian territory. This is an attack against Gaza because they don’t want us there. So we need you to mobilise. Let’s not stay quiet,’ she said.