Flotilla to Gaza: the sister of the president of Ireland was arrested by the navy

According to the organizers, out of 15 Irish citizens who participated in the flotilla, at least six were detained by the Israeli forces. The flotilla, which included more than 50 vessels and 426 activists from 39 different countries, left the southern coast of Turkey on Thursday. Its stated purpose was to deliver humanitarian aid.

The Foreign Ministry clarified that this was a clear provocation, and specifically stated that no aid equipment was found on the ships. As happened in past events, about an hour before the takeover, Israel called on the ships to “change course and turn back immediately”, but the calls were answered with a complete refusal.

The organizers of the flotilla, who reported that they had lost contact with the intercepted ships, rushed to publish videos pre-recorded by the activists in case of an arrest. In the video recorded by Dr. Connolly, she stated: “I am proud to participate in this flotilla… I feel completely obligated, as a mother, as a doctor and as a human being, to help and open a humanitarian route to Gaza.” She also stated in the video that if it is shown, it means that “I was kidnapped from my boat by the occupation forces and I am being held illegally in an Israeli prison.”