Rugby stars add weight to Ireland’s Gaza aid flotilla efforts

Gaza isn't Israel's borders, rugby player. They've decided, like the Nazi's they are to collectively punish 1.5 million people, just as they have done since 1948 when they forcefully deposed of 800,000 Palestinian villagers from their homes to create a Jewish state. They're fascists.

Tom Pickering and Rob Malley from the state dept. have had low level talks with Mahmud Zahar the Hamas foreign minister. Rachel schneller was permitted to take part in a discussion with Osama Hamdan a Hamas spokesperson .Schenneller had tea with Hamdan after the talks.America is talking to Hamas as they are also talking to the Taliban. America therefore must be giving some level of recognition to Hamas.Hamas is fighting for the right of Palestinians to have their ownn state which most countries agree with.Nytreader Palestinians recieve millions of dollars from arab and western nations.

Well done to the Irish players for speaking out when they could have just passed this by with their heads down. Thank you gentlemen.

@georgedillon: Hamas fires rockets into Israel on a regular basis and the ordinary Palestinians suffer as a result. They also are aggressive to many Palestinians and a lot of ordinary citizens fear Hamas; they do little for the betterment of their people. I have experienced this kind of violent party in Northern Ireland. Thanks to Sinn Fein/IRA a United Ireland is further away than ever. SF/ira alienate the very people they need to bring onboard. Oh and if you read my comment again you'll see i was giving an opinion... my thoughts! I wasn't telling anybody what to do.... Idiot!

Wouldn't it be interesting to see one day a Muslim country helping the Palestinians. They don't want anything to do with the Palestinians. Hamas doesn't recognize Israel as a nation...but the world should recognize Hamas as the leaders of the Palestinian people. Stop drinking the Kool Aid Ireland. You're starting to show your ignorance again.

the terrorist state of Israel starving palestinian children.More aid for Palestine.Economic sanctions for Israel.

someone needs confront the cancer that is to be our downfall.

citizen69: " I think Palestinians should vote out Hamas, go the peaceful path". They've been going the peaceful path for decades. The problem is that the Israelis like to kill them--they've killed thousands of Palestinians over the years. Who the hell are you to tell people who to vote for in a foreign country? Cheeky fool.

Idiotic post, johnnyb. Don't you ever even watch the TV News? Israel has been gassing Palestinians for decades now--the last gassing was just last week. Of ocurse Israel prefers to shoot Palestinians--they've shot dead about 40 in the past month. Wake up and buy a newspaper before you show your ignorance.

Although i believe the Palestinian people are being unfairly treated by Israel and are being kept in poverty i dont particularly see this voyage as a message of "Peace", but more as an act of confrontation. They know they are going to be stopped. I think Palestinians should vote out Hamas, go the peaceful path and take the moral high ground. They deserve their own homeland.

This is the Iranian missiles for Gaza flotilla. The Red Cross said in April: "Gaza Strip is not suffering from a humanitarian crisis". So long as Hamas is at war with Israel Israel has every right to check ships heading for Gaza.

Interesting point about the Israelis gassing civilians George. Are you sure you haven't got that all the wrong way round? (Ref: World War 2)

Big mistake! Israel has the right to secure its borders from hostile intrusions even if the intuders include Irish rugby players.

The aid ships are not going to Israel, you clown butlerrport, they won't even enter Israeli waters. They're headed for Gaza. Don't you even know the difference?

Why don't you fly to Cairo and cross the border to Gaza with Egypt? The Middle East is ablaze and you pick on the one country - Israel - that lives in a peaceful democracy. Oh yes, hatred of Jews is alive and well in Ireland. Did you know that a new water park opened in Gaza this week for children?