Irish flotilla activists illegally detained by Israel to be deported

A screengrab from the video shared by Israel's national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir

Irish citizens from the Global Sumud Flotilla who were illegally detained by Israel are being deported, alongside hundreds of other activists. 

Lawyer for the detainees, Suhad Bishara, said the activists will travel to Turkey before going to their home countries. 

All 15 Irish citizens have been released and will leave via Turkey on Thursday, including Margaret Connolly, the sister of President Catherine Connolly. 

“The sister of the president met with one of our staff lawyers yesterday, and she’s making her way to Ramon right now,” Bishara told RTÉ's David McCullagh show on Thursday. 

Meanwhile, the European Council has been asked to discuss the treatment of activists by Israel at the next European Union summit.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has written to President Antonio Costa, after video footage emerged showing a senior Israeli minister taunting activists while they're bound and on their knees.

Mr Martin said European leaders should now consider the suspension of all or parts of the EU-Israel Association Agreement as a result of the incident. 

Video footage released showed some of the approximately 430 activists being taunted by Israel's national security minister, which has raised international condemnation from world leaders of Canada, Poland, Italy, New Zealand and Australia. It has also drawn criticism from other members of the Israeli government.

Three participants from the 430 activists were hospitalised during their detention, while dozens of others were estimated to have broken ribs and would need medical attention when they return home, Ms Bashra.

The footage shows Itamar Ben-Gvir walking among some of the detained activists flanked by police and soldiers as he waved a large Israeli flag and told them: “Welcome to Israel, we are the landlords.” 

It also shows one handcuffed activist, who has since been identified as Caitríona Graham shouting “Free Palestine” as Ben-Gvir walked past, being pushed to the ground by security personnel.

Activists can be seen with their hands tied behind their backs, kneeling with their heads touching the floor, inside what appears to be a makeshift detention area at Ashdod port and on the deck of a ship.

ככה אנחנו מקבלים את תומכי הטרור

Welcome to Israel 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/7Hf8cAg7fC

— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) May 20, 2026

In a second video, Ben-Gvir says the activists “came here all full of pride like big heroes. Look at them now,” while appealing to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to grant him permission to imprison them.

“I say to prime minister Netanyahu, give them to me for a long, long time, give them to us for the terrorist prisons, that’s what it should look like,” Ben-Gvir said.

Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir attends  (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg, Pool, File)

It comes as the Tánaiste condemned the actions of the Israeli government towards illegally detained participants of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which includes 14 Irish citizens, as a "further clear breach of international law." 

Simon Harris on Thursday said the actions of the Israeli government were "despicable and cannot be consequence-free."

"This is a further clear breach of international law," he said in a statement. 

"Illegally detaining citizens in international waters and then degrading them. 

"It is disgusting. Condemnation is important, but not enough. 

I fully support the work being done by our Foreign Minister, Helen McEntee and the Taoiseach on this.

"I intend to raise it with fellow European People's Party Leaders also. There must be a strong, unambiguous EU response, and I reiterate the calls for the suspension of trade elements of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. This has been our consistent position as a country. It is long past time for Europe to act," Mr Harris added. 

It follows the Taoiseach's statement on Wednesday, where he condemned the video footage that was widely shared on Ben-Gvir's X account. 

Micheál Martin said he was "appalled at the shocking behaviour of Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir towards illegally detained members of the Sumud Flotilla".

Mr Martin described the Israeli government’s actions as being "in breach of international law".

“It’s disgraceful, it’s a blight on the Israeli Government and other European leaders are likewise calling this out,” Mr Martin said.

“I will, at the European Union level, seek to get a broader agreement, particularly in terms of the European Union-Israeli Association Agreement. It is no longer tenable that it would be business as usual with Israel, given its scant regard for European Union citizens.” Mr Martin said the right to protest was a “sacred one” within a democracy.

“The flotilla was in international waters, and people were essentially abducted by the Israeli Government on the high seas have been brought to detention locations.

“Our immediate objective is to get Irish citizens released as quickly as possible.”