'Rachel Corrie' activists due home today

Five Irish activists who were deported from Israel yesterday after trying to bring aid supplies to Gaza are due to arrive in Dublin airport later.

The group were on board the aid ship the 'Rachel Corrie' when it was boarded by Israeli security forces after refusing to change course.

John Dorman, spokesperson for the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC), said the world "must not now turn its back" on the plight of Palestinians in Gaza.

The IPSC is calling on dockers around the world to follow the example of their Swedish colleagues, who will mount a blockade on Israeli goods on June 15.

One week ago today, the international community was stunned when Israeli troops stormed a convoy of aid ships in international waters, killing nine people.

The Irish-registered MV Rachel Corrie was delayed by several days by a technical issue and so arrived in the region days behind the main 'Freedom Flotilla'.

On Saturday, after it refused Irish and Israeli requests to divert to the Israeli port of Ashdod, the vessel was intercepted by Israeli forces.

Those onboard were brought to a detention centre in Holon, from where the deportations began yesterday.

Meanwhile, Israel's ambassador to Washington said the country would not participate in any international investigation of its actions.

Michael Oren said Israel has the ability and the right to investigate itself and not to be investigated by any international board.

The Israeli diplomat said his government had no intention of acceding to demands by a number of governments for a independent inquiry into last Monday's fatal raid.