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THE TAOISEACH AND the Tánaiste have condemned Israel’s detention of Dr Margaret Connolly, the sister of President Catherine Connolly, who was taking part in an aid flotilla mission to Gaza.
Speaking on their way into cabinet this morning, Micheál Martin said it was “unacceptable”, while Simon Harris deemed it “a breach of international law”.
Connolly is among 12 Irish citizens on board the flotilla that were detained by Israel in the Mediterranean on Monday.
The Global Sumud Flotilla said at least 10 of its 60 vessels were intercepted by Israeli naval forces just after 9am local time (7am Irish time) in international waters approximately 70 nautical miles off Cyprus. Communications were reportedly cut during the operation.
The other Irish citizens detained by Israeli forces have been named as: Tom Deasy, Cormac O’Daly, Joshua St Leger, Louise McCormack, Catriona Graham, Helena Kearns, Adam Fitzhenry Collier, Luke Mc Menamin, Fra Hughes, and Tara Sheehy.
Speaking to reporters in London on Monday, President Catherine Connolly said what happened was “quite upsetting” and that while she was “very proud” of her sister, she was also worried for her and the others people who have been detained.
Tánaiste Simon Harris told reporters this morning that his thoughts are with the President and the other families whose loved ones have been detained.
“I was very struck by the president’s comments yesterday, because on a purely personal level of course you’d be worried, and my heart goes out to President Connolly and her family, and indeed all of the families of those detained,” he said.
What Israel has done is, in my view, illegal. It is, in my view, in breach of international law – quite frankly, not even in my view. It is in breach of international law.
Asked whether the government should engage with Israel on the detention of the president’s sister, Harris said: “We’re at this long enough to know that Israel doesn’t really care very much for people’s words, does it?”
He said members of government, opposition and others have criticised Israel’s actions in Gaza but “unfortunately Israel seems to ignore the condemnation of the international world”.
“That’s why I think it’s important that we look at the actions that can be taken,” he said, referring to the Occupied Territories Bill and action at EU level.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the detention of Margaret Connolly and the other Irish citizens by Israeli forces “is absolutely unacceptable and is wrong”.
He said the behaviour of Israel in international waters against the aid flotilla is “unacceptable” and that people have a right to protest and take part in a mission to highlight the “shocking” humanitarian issue in Gaza.
“We have condemned that as we have before where Israel intervenes in international waters and detains and essentially abducts people from the ships, and that’s unacceptable and the international rule of law has to apply.”
Martin said the government “will be raising this at European Union level in the context of other issues pertaining to Gaza and the West Bank in particular”.
He added: “We hope to make progress at European Union level in relation to a number of issues in relation to Palestine, particularly in terms of sanctions on settlers, for example, who are to a large extent being facilitated by the Israeli government.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that officials “are actively monitoring the situation” regarding the flotilla and “are engaging with the relevant authorities”.
“The Department will provide consular assistance to impacted Irish citizens,” a department spokesperson added.
Flotilla organisers have said that all participants “are acting within the law to deliver aid to the Palestinian people in Gaza who have been failed by all states and international institutions,”.
One organiser said the Irish delegation of the flotilla “calls on the government to explain to the families and loved ones of the boat participants why they continue to allow their citizens be abused in this manner and why they have continued to support the genocide of the Palestinian people.”
A number of flotillas have been intercepted by Israel in recent months, with activists detained and later deported.
The previous flotilla, which included many of the same ships and activists as the current convoy, launched in April, and was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters off the coast of Greece.
Roughly 175 activists were then taken to the Greek island of Crete and released after their vessels were seized. Two activists were taken back to Israel, arrested and then deported days later.
Speaking to The Journal at the time from a flotilla vessel off the coast of Crete, Dr Connolly said: “This is absolutely illegal – against the law – against everything”.
Israel has maintained a naval blockade on Gaza since 2007.
With reporting from Press Association
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