Irish citizens who were detained by Israeli authorities “have been released and are currently on their journey home”, Tánaiste Simon Harris TD has confirmed.
The Global Sumud Flotilla tried to “break Israel’s illegal siege on Gaza” by sailing across the Mediterranean to Palestine.
But last week the boats were intercepted by Israeli authorities and all those on board, including a number of Irish citizens were arrested.
The group behind the flotilla claimed that the boats were “intercepted by the Israeli navy in international waters”.
They accuse Israel of kidnap arguing that the crews were “unlawfully seized and brought to Israel.”
462 activists from around 45 countries were on board the intercepted vessels, according to the group.
“Coordinated by grassroots organizers, seafarers, doctors, artists, and solidarity activists from over 40 countries, the flotilla is a nonviolent humanitarian mission responding to the ongoing genocide and siege against the Palestinian people”, the group says on their website.
But Israel accused them of being “provocateurs” and carrying out a “PR stunt”.
Israeli’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that citizens from citizens Greece, Italy, France, Ireland, Sweden, Poland, Germany, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Austria, Luxembourg, Finland, Denmark, Slovakia, Switzerland, Norway, the UK, Serbia, and the United States had now been released.
Tánaiste Simon Harris said the release and return of Irish citizens had taken place “after a weekend of intensive efforts by officials from across my Department, including the Embassy team in Tel Aviv, working in conjunction with international partners.”
“I know that this has been a difficult time for both the Irish citizens and their families, and I pay tribute to their strength throughout. Dublin-based officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade remain in close contact with family members who have requested our support, and will continue to update them.”
“I am also aware of a number of Irish citizens participating in other Flotillas en route to Gaza and have instructed my Department to closely monitor that evolving situation. While my Department continues to advise against travel to the Gaza Strip, in this case our clear priority is to ensure the welfare of our citizens.”
“As we welcome our citizens home, Ireland will continue to call for all efforts to reach an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas, and unhindered humanitarian access to the people of Gaza at scale.”