Belfast Man Fra Hughes Says Israeli Forces Detained Global Sumud Flotilla Activists

A Belfast man, Fra Hughes from Ardoyne, described his “traumatic and terrifying” experience after Israeli forces detained activists on vessels in the Global Sumud Flotilla attempting to bring medicine and food to Gaza.

“- Published A Belfast man who was on board a flotilla bringing aid to Gaza has said the journey was "exhausting and worrying"”

BBC

Hughes said the journey was “exhausting and worrying” and told BBC News NI that “We had six people on the boat – so you get six hours off,” while the engine ran and he tried to sleep.

BBC

He said the flotilla was intercepted by Israeli soldiers in international waters, with hundreds of global participants detained, and that 11 Irish citizens arrived at Dublin airport on Saturday after being deported by Israel.

The BBC reported that the activists were sent to Turkey on Friday before being flown to Ireland, and that in total 14 Irish people were among hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists detained in Israel.

The Irish News said Hughes was among those who were detained while on board vessels part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, and that hundreds gathered to welcome home the Irish detainees at Dublin Airport on Friday.

The Irish News said international condemnation followed a video on social media in which Israel’s national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was shown walking among detainees and saying they should remain in prison for a long time.

Hughes told The Irish News that “They created an atmosphere that anyone, at any time, could be beaten or abused in order to try and subjugate us,” and he described IDF soldiers pointing guns at activists and putting “the laser sights on our heads”.

The Irish News

The BBC reported that Hughes told BBC News NI he was asleep in another area when the incident happened, and that he called the detention setup “cages” after being moved into tents with canvas on the outside and metal beds inside.

Hughes said the group was trained in non-violence and added, “There is enough violence inherent within the system, without us potentially making it worse,” while the BBC described Ben-Gvir’s rare criticism from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “not in line with Israel’s values”.

The Irish News also quoted Hughes saying the treatment he and other flotilla participants received “pales into insignificance” compared with what Palestinian prisoners face every day, including “400 children and hundreds of women” in Israeli detention.

The BBC reported that Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was “appalled at the shocking behaviour” of Ben-Gvir and said there was “a lot of anger” across the EU at the video, after meeting French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Thursday.

“A Belfast man has described his “traumatic and terrifying” experience of being detained by Israeli forces following his deportation back to Ireland”

The Irish News

The Irish News said Dr Margaret Connolly, sister of Ireland’s President Catherine Connolly, told reporters her “heart was breaking” thinking of the Palestinian people in Israeli detention and said “They wanted us to suffer.”

The BBC set the flotilla episode within the wider Gaza war, saying the war was triggered by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 Octover, 2023, when about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

It added that Israel responded by launching a military campaign against Hamas in Gaza, during which more than 72,300 people have been killed, according to the territory's health ministry.

In its statement, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “All foreign activists from the PR flotilla have been deported from Israel,” and warned that “Israel will not permit any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza,” while dismissing the action as a “PR stunt at the service of Hamas”.