Fourteen Irish flotilla participants at Israeli airport for deportation
By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association
Fourteen Irish citizens who were detained in Israel after an aid flotilla they were on was intercepted, have arrived at an airport for deportation, the Foreign Affairs Minister has said.
Hundreds more participants from other countries were also detained when the flotilla, which had been carrying aid to Gaza, was stopped by Israeli forces in international waters.
In a video on social media on Wednesday, Israel’s national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is shown walking among some of the detainees and saying they should remain in prison for a long time.
The footage shows some people kneeling on the ground in tightly packed groups with their hands tied behind their backs.
The video and the detention of the flotilla participants has been condemned by senior figures in the Government.
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Welcome to Israel ð®ð± pic.twitter.com/7Hf8cAg7fC— ××ת×ר ×× ×××ר (@itamarbengvir) May 20, 2026
Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee told the Dáil that all Irish citizens had arrived at Ramon Airport, from where they will be taken to Istanbul.
The citizens had been held at Ktziot detention centre, having been transferred there overnight from the port of Ashdod.
McEntee said: “We will have an ambassador there on the ground to meet with them directly. We have consistently called for access and the ability to engage directly with them by our teams, and that has been denied of us.
“And I want to condemn these actions and say that it is not acceptable.”
McEntee said there had been reports that two detainees had been injured, but said they were not Irish.
I continue to monitor closely the situation concerning our citizens currently in Israeli custody. Our citizens are expected to be deported to Türkiye later today, where they will be met by representatives from our Embassy in Türkiye.
— Helen McEntee TD (@HMcEntee) May 21, 2026
“These actions, the illegal detention, the way in which our citizens have been detained – we all saw the footage and are horrified by it – but also the fact that we have not had direct contact with our citizens, it is completely unacceptable.”
McEntee said she was working to build a consensus within the EU to take action against Israel, but also said she would be bringing forward domestic legislation to suspend importation of goods from the Occupied Palestinian Territories “in the coming weeks”, adding this would happen “irrespective of whether or not we reach a consensus at European level”.
Labour’s Ged Nash called for the legislation to be passed next week and asked for services to be included in the legislation.
McEntee said she would not get into details of the legislation as it had to first be brought to Government but said she had engagements with the Attorney General about the matter.
Earlier, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was “appalled at the shocking behaviour” of Ben-Gvir, adding that the Israeli government’s actions were in breach of international law and he intended to raise the issue at EU level.
Appalled at the shocking behaviour of Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir towards illegally detained members of the Sumud Flotilla.
The Israeli government’s actions are in breach of international law and I intend to raise this issue at EU level.— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) May 20, 2026
He was expected to raise the matter during a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Thursday.
The Tánaiste said there must be a “strong, unambiguous” EU response to the illegal detention of European flotilla participants by Israel.
Simon Harris said: “The actions of the Israeli government towards illegally detained members of the Sumud Flotilla, including Irish and EU citizens is disgusting and cannot be consequence-free.
“This is a further clear breach of international law. Illegally detaining citizens in international waters and then degrading them. It is despicable.”
He added: “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.”
It’s quite upsetting, and I’m very worried about her, and I’m also very concerned about her colleagues on board
McEntee said: “At my instruction, Ireland’s ambassador to Israel has demanded immediate assurances that the welfare and wellbeing of all Irish citizens is safeguarded, and that they are afforded all the protections that they are entitled to under international law.
“I have also demanded their immediate release.
“I can assure their families and loved ones that our citizens will be afforded all appropriate consular assistance and support as soon as we secure access to them.”
Dr Margaret Connolly, sister of President Catherine Connolly, was among the Irish citizens on board the Global Sumud Flotilla who were detained by Israel.
Earlier in the week, she said she was “very proud” of her sister, but was worried about her.
“It’s quite upsetting, and I’m very worried about her, and I’m also very concerned about her colleagues on board.”
