Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved military operations on the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla, CBS News reported on Friday, citing two anonymous American intelligence officials.
The two officials said that Israeli forces launched drones from a submarine and dropped incendiary devices onto the vessels.
The incident occurred outside the Tunisian port of Sidi Bou Said, where the flotilla remained stalled for a week after arriving on September 7.
Flotilla activists described the drone attacks, which they reported to occur twice in two days, as deliberate attempts by Israel to disrupt the mission.
Tunisia called the incident an "orchestrated assault," although the Interior Ministry didn't accuse a specific party or country.
Latest flotilla also intercepted
The flotilla's latest mission to reach Gaza was also intercepted by Israeli forces.
In a statement, the Global Sumud Flotilla said Israeli naval forces had now "illegally intercepted all 42 of our vessels, each carrying humanitarian aid, volunteers, and the determination to break Israel’s illegal siege on Gaza."
According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, none of the 40 vessels were carrying humanitarian aid.
The ministry added that all passengers were safe, in good health, and making their way to Ashdod before departing to Europe.