Taoiseach calls for activists detained by Israeli forces to be treated 'properly'

Israeli forces stopped 13 boats carrying foreign activists and aid bound for Gaza, with 30 boats are continuing to sail towards the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave

Speaking in Copenhagen ahead of a meeting of the European Political Community, the Taoiseach said he is “receiving briefings” on the flotilla. Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said Irish authorities are in touch with citizens on the intercepted flotilla to Gaza as he called for them to be treated “properly and appropriately”.

Israeli forces stopped 13 boats carrying foreign activists and aid bound for Gaza, with 30 boats continuing to sail towards the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave.

The boats have several Irish people on board. Sinn Féin has said its senator, Chris Andrews, has been “illegally kidnapped by Israel” aboard the Sumud Flotilla.

Speaking in Copenhagen ahead of a meeting of the European Political Community, the Taoiseach said he is “receiving briefings” on the flotilla.

“Our ambassador is in touch with the Israeli authorities, and we will be providing consular assistance to those who have been detained,” he said.

“It's important that they're treated properly. It's a humanitarian mission, no threat to anybody other than to highlight, and also to bring humanitarian aid into the people of Gaza.

“It underlines the absolute imperative of getting humanitarian aid into Gaza as quickly as possible, under the auspices of the United Nations and the Red Crescent, as outlined in the peace proposals that emanated from the United States in consultation with the Arab states.” 

Mr Martin stated that if the incident had happened in international waters, it is a breach of international maritime law. He stated that the people on the flotilla must be treated “appropriately” and “properly”.

“We have a point of contact with the flotilla, the Department of Foreign Affairs has, and we've been making the point consistently that these are areas where people should not visit because of the obvious dangers,” he continued.

“I think the paramount consideration has to be the safety of all those on the flotilla.” 

Sinn Féin has stated that it lost contact with Mr Andrews on Wednesday evening. As many as nine Irish citizens are understood to have been detained.

In Dublin, Tánaiste Simon Harris will convene a meeting of senior officials this Thursday morning to discuss the flotilla. He is also due to speak with Ireland’s Ambassador to Israel.

Mr Harris said that the “latest understanding is that passengers will be transferred to an Israeli port for processing and that Ireland’s Embassy on the ground will liaise with local authorities and provide consular assistance”.