'Government should have sent army personnel' after attack on Gaza aid flotilla, says senator

The Global Sumud Flotilla group said that they received intelligence that the attacks could intensify in the coming days as the boats near Gaza. Picture: Sebastiano Diamante/LaPresse via AP

Drones buzz incessantly around the Spectre at night, their lights darting aggressively about the 50-year old boat as it makes its way to Gaza carrying humanitarian aid for starving, injured children.

Sinn Féin senator Chris Andrews was aboard when those drones attacked on Tuesday night, dropping four explosive devices on the boat with some landing just feet from potentially deadly and highly combustible diesel drums.

“Four of them hit our boat on Tuesday. Other boats were hit too," Mr Andrews said.

“Two people that were on a night watch came down into the body of the boat [to warn sleeping crew that drones had come particularly close] and next thing we heard the explosions. There were four explosions over a period of about an hour. 

"We put on our life jackets and got ready, because if they had hit the generator or the containers of diesel beside them, it would have been really, really, really bad," he said.

The boat’s communication system was also jammed, preventing crew from calling for help, with Abba music being blasted across the communication channels instead.

Tuesday’s attacks were the third on this freedom flotilla carrying vital aid to Gaza.

The Global Sumud Flotilla group said that they received intelligence that the attacks could intensify in the coming days as the boats near Gaza, with information that Israel would use weapons that “could sink boats, injure, and/or kill participants”.

Held at gunpoint

Mr Andrews has been on four previous humanitarian flotillas to Palestine, the first being in 2008.

On a previous flotilla in 2011, his boat was water cannoned and then intercepted by Israeli special forces who held the humanitarians at gunpoint. He was arrested and held in an Israeli jail for one week before being deported. Only one of the flotillas he was on previously reached Gaza.

However, this one — with some 50 boats — is bigger than the others. The more drones that descend on them, the more determined the crew are to make it through to Gaza with vital baby formula, food, and medical supplies to people who will die without urgent intervention.

Rough weather forced the flotilla of some 50 boats and 44 nationalities to dock near Crete on Thursday. One boat had to repair its damaged mast following a drone strike on Tuesday.

“We are ready to sail in the morning,” Mr Andrews said. “It should take four-and-a-half to six days to reach Gaza.” 

Italian and Spanish naval ships were dispatched to observe the flotilla following Tuesday’s attacks.

“It does give you a little bit of reassurance," Mr Andrews said. 

The concern is that Israel has established that it can do whatever it wants, whenever it wants, to whomever it wants

Ireland’s verbal condemnation of attacks on the flotilla in contrast was “weak, ” he said, with no substantive action taken.

“The Irish Government should have sent army personnel, and they could still do that," Mr Andrews said.

“It’s not breaking international law and doesn't affect our neutrality, because it is a humanitarian mission.

“This is a non-violent, peaceful flotilla of people who just want to get aid to the people of Gaza, show the people of Gaza that ordinary people have not forgotten them.

“And that's what our mission is: To deliver not just aid, but hope," he added.

'Serving Hamas'

Israel has not yet claimed responsibility for the drone attacks, but it has said that the flotilla is “serving Hamas”.

Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s regime has also vowed to prevent the flotilla from reaching Gaza.

In a letter to the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said she had “grave concern” over the attacks against the flotilla.

“This threat to Irish citizens and humanitarian workers is incomprehensible and of grave concern. The Irish Government has a duty to protect its citizens, particularly those on a mission of peace and solidarity.” 

Tánaiste Simon Harris said that, although he was supportive of the flotilla's aims, the Government had "always been clear that" that Gaza is "a very dangerous place to travel to".

"That doesn't in any way, shape, or form, allow anybody to breach international law," Mr Harris said.

"Israel has to know, in the strongest possible terms, that any breaches of international law will be taken extraordinarily seriously. This is a gravely worrying situation."