Irish author and TD in Israeli detention after ship carrying aid to Gaza intercepted by Israel
An Irish author and TD remained in Israeli detention on Wednesday night after their ship carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza was intercepted by Israel.
All seven participants on the ship, the Milad, were "illegally kidnapped", the organisers of the flotilla said.
Flotilla organisers Thousand Madleens said that the interception was by the Israeli military in international waters.
All nine ships in the flotilla have been intercepted. They were some 120 nautical miles from Gaza.
Independent TD Barry Heneghan and author Naoise Dolan are among the detainees.
It is understood that five Irish citizens in total were a part of the flotilla.
Other Irish citizens arrested were named as Fionn MacArthur, Veronica O’Keane, and Mutaz Jadaan, a dual Irish-Jordanian citizen.
A spokesperson for Ms Dolan said: “Her family and friends are monitoring the situation closely and her legal team has already mobilised.
"There are no communications with the boat or flotilla members at the moment."
Tánaiste Simon Harris confirmed he had been made aware of the flotilla being intercepted, with five Irish citizens onboard.
“In this situation, my clear priority is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our citizens,” he said in a statement.
“To this end, our embassy team in Tel Aviv is in contact with Israeli authorities regarding next steps and the wellbeing of the Irish citizens who have been detained."
In a statement on X, Israel's foreign ministry said the vessels and the passengers have been transferred to an Israeli port. It said: "The passengers are expected to be deported promptly."
It comes as five Irish activists who were held in Israel after their Gaza aid vessels were intercepted last week arrived back in Dublin on Tuesday.
The group said that they were “denied access to water, medical care, and legal aid” after being detained while attempting to provide humanitarian support to the people of Gaza.
Five of the 15 Irish citizens who had been aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla that was detained last week arrived at Dublin Airport on Tuesday afternoon.
Five more, including Senator Chris Andrews, arrived back in Dublin in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Cork grandfather Paddy O’Donovan, 61, retuned to his home in Cobh on Tuesday after spending five days on huger strike in an Israeli jail.
Prison guards verbally abused them and frequently pointed guns at their heads in cramped cells saying that they were not going to get out alive, he said.
“I thought I was going to be shot,” he said.
“But as bad as things were for us, it was worse for the Palestinians.
“They were chained, bent over, and blindfolded with dogs circling them and barking,” he said.
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