Israeli Forces Intercept Global Sumud Flotilla, Detain 14 Irish Activists, Deport Them to Turkey

Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters and detained Irish activists before deporting them to Turkey, with 14 Irish people among hundreds of participants.

The Irish activists arrived at Dublin Airport after being flown from Istanbul, and a crowd of more than 400 supporters met them, with cheers in the terminal as friends and family hugged loved ones.

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Dr Margaret Connolly, sister of Ireland’s President Catherine Connolly, said her “heart was breaking” thinking of the Palestinian people who were in Israeli detention and described the experience as “dehumanising” conditions.

Connolly said the activists were kept in “dehumanising” conditions and that detainees had to gather their body heat together for fear of hypothermia, while she also described being allowed to “cuddle them like a mother.”

A video posted by Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir showed him walking among detainees while they were pinned to the ground with their hands tied behind their backs, and the footage drew international condemnation.

BBC reported that the Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was “appalled at the shocking behaviour” of Ben-Gvir, while the BBC also said Martin told reporters that there was “a lot of anger” across the EU at the video.

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On Newstalk, Imelda Graham, mother of activist Catriona Graham, said violence against activists critical of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians had “gotten worse” and described her daughter being strip searched twice.

Graham told Ciara Kelly that “Cat herself has bruises and sores” and said “There were a number of people who suffered sexual assaults, often in front of the other participants, which is appalling.”

The Irish Times reported that the activists were arrested at a port in southern Israel after the Israeli navy intercepted their protest flotilla in international waters on Monday, and it said their treatment drew an international outcry and a rebuke from prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

The Irish Times also said Ben-Gvir and at least one other minister in Netanyahu’s government, transport chief Miri Regev, posted campaign-style videos of themselves visiting the port, and it described a detained Irish activist, Caitríona Graham, chanting “Free, Free Palestine” before Ben-Gvir walked past.

In the Dáil, the Irish Times said TDs voted against legislation seeking to impose sanctions on Israel, by 77 votes to 62, and it quoted McEntee saying she would bring the legislation forward “in the coming weeks” irrespective of consensus at a European level.

The Irish Times further reported that McEntee said she was pushing for a vote “at the next Foreign Affairs Council” specifically on banning or suspending the trade elements of the EU Israel Association Agreement, while the BBC said Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman stated: “Israel will not permit any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza.”