The group was detained last Wednesday and Thursday as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla movement of over 470 activists on 41 vessels attempting to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza.
Israeli forces boarded the vessels in international waters and transported hundreds of activists to the Ketziot prison in southern Israel, where they were detained over the weekend, before over 170 flotilla participants were flown to Athens, Greece.
The Irish section of the flotilla’s organisers, Global Movement to Gaza, stated yesterday that upon arrival at Dublin Airport, the flotilla participants "will be reunited with their families and be given a change of clothes, rehydration packs, water and essential medications".
The group also added that there was a 16th member of the flotilla who holds an Irish passport, but because he is also an American citizen, he will be part of a separate deportation process.
The first flight bringing flotilla participants to Dublin Airport arrived at approximately 11 pm last night, while another flight is expected to arrive at around 4 pm this afternoon.
A Sinn Féin spokesperson told Extra.ie that he believes that Senator Chris Andrews will arrive home on a third and final flight late tonight.
Irish senator Chris Andrews was among activists detained after Israeli forces intercepted the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris stated yesterday that he welcomed the release of Irish citizens after ‘a weekend of intensive efforts by officials from across my department, including the embassy team in Tel Aviv, working in conjunction with international partners’.
‘I know that this has been a difficult time for both the Irish citizens and their families, and I pay tribute to their strength throughout,’ he said.
Several international activists have alleged abuse and humiliation by Israeli guards, which the country’s foreign ministry called ‘complete lies’.
Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, had previously boasted last week that members of the flotilla would be held at the Ketziot prison in ‘the same conditions as terrorists’.
A coordinator with the Global Movement to Gaza Éire, Niamh MacNamara, said yesterday that the Irish Government’s inaction on Gaza had led directly to the flotilla being organised. She remarked: ‘We demand immediate political action to protect those still sailing to Gaza and to end our complicity in this genocide.’
The names of the activists being sent back to Ireland are Caitriona Graham, Senator Chris Andrews, Colm Byrne, Cormac O’Daly, Diarmuid MacDubhghlais, Donna Schwarz, Louise Heaney, Maureen Almai, Paddy Kelly, Patrick O’Donovan, Sarah Clancy, Tadhg Hickey, Tara O’Grady, Tara Sheehy, and Thomas McCune.
* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
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