Fourteen Irish citizens detained by Israeli authorities after an aid flotilla carrying supplies to Gaza was intercepted in international waters have arrived at an airport for deportation, according to Helen McEntee, reports Breaking News.
The flotilla, organised by the Global Sumud Flotilla, was stopped by Israeli forces, with hundreds of international participants reportedly detained.
Footage shared online by Itamar Ben-Gvir appeared to show detainees kneeling on the ground with their hands restrained behind their backs. The video sparked widespread condemnation from Irish political leaders, reports Breaking News.
Speaking in the Dáil, Ms McEntee said the Irish citizens had been transferred overnight from Ashdod port to Ktziot detention centre before being brought to Ramon Airport for deportation via Istanbul.
She said Irish officials had repeatedly sought direct consular access to the detainees but those requests were denied by Israeli authorities, reports Breaking News.
Ms McEntee described the detention and treatment of the Irish citizens as “completely unacceptable” and condemned what she called the illegal detention and degrading treatment shown in the footage.
She added that reports indicated two detainees had been injured, although neither was Irish, reports Breaking News.
Micheál Martin said he was “appalled at the shocking behaviour” displayed in the footage and argued that Israel’s actions breached international law.
He said the issue would be raised at EU level during talks with Emmanuel Macron in Paris, reports Breaking News.
Meanwhile, Simon Harris called for a “strong, unambiguous” European Union response.
He described the detention of Irish and EU citizens in international waters as “disgusting” and “despicable” and renewed calls for the suspension of trade elements within the EU-Israel Association Agreement, reports Breaking News.
Ms McEntee also confirmed she intends to bring forward legislation in the coming weeks aimed at suspending imports of goods from the Occupied Palestinian Territories, regardless of whether wider EU consensus is achieved.
Labour TD Ged Nash urged the Government to move quickly and expand the measures to include services, reports Breaking News.
Among those detained was Margaret Connolly, sister of Catherine Connolly, reports Breaking News.
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