Five Irish activists whose ship was blocked from delivering humanitarian relief supplies to Gaza will arrive back in Dublin tomorrow, it was confirmed today.

The Irish aid ship blocked from delivering relief supplies to Gaza has arrived in Israel, campaigners confirmed tonight.

Labour MEP Proinsias de Rossa is calling on the Government to initiate legal action against Israel in light of the attack on the aid convoy last Monday and the boarding of the MV Rachel Corrie.

One of the last ships on a flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza is to be intercepted by the Israeli navy today.

One of the last ships on a flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza was intercepted by the Israeli navy today.

AS an Irish aid ship sailed closer to Gaza last night, Ireland’s only Jewish TD called on Israel to lift its blockade of the territory while declaring that the recent attack on aid vessels was “indefensible”.

THE Israeli ambassador to Ireland has been heavily criticised after withdrawing from an Oireachtas committee hearing today into the flotilla raid in which nine people were killed.

AN Irish-owned aid vessel was sailing closer to Gaza’s shores last night amid threats by Israel that it was standing firm over its blockade ofthe war-torn Palestinian territory.

Israeli sources have said they will intercept an Irish ship bound for Gaza.

ANXIOUS peace activists aboard an Irish-owned ship bound for Gaza have vowed not to give up their humanitarian aid cargo to Israel but have said they are prepared to surrender peacefully if Israeli commandos decide to board their boat.

High-profile humanitarian activists tonight pleaded with EU chiefs to use sanctions to force an end to Israel’s blockade of Gaza.

Israel is being warned to act with "absolute restraint" when the MV Rachel Corrie approaches Gaza.

Sinn Féin's Dáil leader Caoimhghin O Caolain has called on Taoiseach Brian Cowen to initiate a trade boycott of Israel at national and EU level.

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Micheál Martin has accused Israel of kidnapping up to eight Irish citizens and breaking international law by refusing diplomats access to them.

Nobel laureate Mairead Maguire and former soldier Derek Graham will be deported by Israel today for attempting to bring aid to Gaza.

Two Irish people who were arrested in Israel last week are due to arrive back in Ireland tomorrow night.

Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin today called for the swift release of two Irish nationals currently detained in Israel following the June 30 seizure of a boat en route to Gaza with humanitarian aid.

Two Irish people are among a group of 21 human rights activists being held by the Israeli authorities for trying to bring humanitarian supplies to the Gaza Strip.

THE Israeli navy ordered a small ferry carrying medical supplies and foreign peace activists to Gaza to turn back, a spokesman for the group said yesterday.

An aid ship with two Irish citizens are onboard has today been boarded and towed to an Israeli port.

Two Irish citizens are onboard a boat which has been boarded by the Israeli Navy, according to unconfirmed reports today.

The Israeli navy has turned back a protest boat trying to bring humanitarian supplies by sea into the Gaza Strip.