The interception of the ‘Madleen’ charity vessel and arrest of its crew by Israeli forces represents another egregious breach of international law, according to Senator Patricia Stephenson.
Senator Stephenson, who is the Social Democrats’ spokesperson on foreign affairs, said:
“I would like to commend the bravery and determination of the 12 peace activists who took part in this deeply symbolic humanitarian mission to bring emergency aid to the people of Gaza.
“The safety of those arrested must be fully guaranteed by the Israeli government, who continue to act as if they are immune to international law and have shown they are capable of anything.
“The arrest of EU citizens by Israel must be roundly condemned by all member states, including Ireland.
“This incident must strengthen Ireland’s resolve to take meaningful action against Israel for its litany of war crimes, with more than 54,000 Palestinians now dead since this conflict began and two million people facing imminent starvation.
“On Wednesday, the government will have another opportunity to stop the Central Bank facilitating the sale of Israeli war bonds, with the Social Democrats using its Dáil time to bring forward a cross-party motion on the issue.
“Given that Ireland is a signatory to the Genocide Convention, we have a legal responsibility to do whatever we can to stop a genocide from occurring or persisting.”
June 9, 2025