A flotilla sailing from Barcelona toward the Gaza Strip, which includes activist Greta Thunberg, has faced allegations of sexual misconduct involving a senior member of its leadership.

The Palestinian group Heart of Falastin and social media posts accused a steering committee figure of inappropriate relations with volunteers, though the individual, Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila, strongly denied the claims.

Organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla said internal reviews found no evidence to support the allegations due to lack of witnesses or formal complaints.

Ávila called the accusations a smear campaign and said an ethics committee had cleared the matter, i24 News has reported.

The controversy has added internal tension and public scrutiny to a mission aimed at drawing attention to humanitarian conditions in Gaza.