The Irish Government must intervene to ensure the safety of Irish activists illegally detained in international waters by Israeli forces, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson.
Senator Stephenson said:
“Yet again, we see Israel act with impunity as the latest Gaza-bound flotilla – carrying food, medicine and baby formula – is intercepted off the coast of Greece.
“This is a peaceful humanitarian mission, involving around 175 activists on 20 vessels, with a number of Irish citizens taking part – including the sister of President Catherine Connolly.
“It is absolutely outrageous that six Irish people have reportedly been detained by Israeli forces in waters that it has no jurisdiction over. This is another egregious breach of international law by Israel, which is tantamount to an act of piracy.
“We need to know what action the Minister of Foreign Affairs is taking to ensure the safety of our Irish citizens, and indeed, all the volunteers participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla.
“In a pattern that has become all too familiar, the international community can only look on helplessly as senior Israeli figures take to social media to mock the detainees and boast about the IDF’s interception of the flotilla.
“Why do European leaders not have the courage to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement? And why is the Irish Government letting the long overdue Occupied Territories Bill gather dust?
“How many more human rights breaches does Israel need to commit before the rest of the world acts?”
April 30, 2026