The Department of Foreign affairs has lodged a protest with the Israeli authorities after a number of Irish activists detained when attempting to sail into Gaza last week failed to return home today.
Seven of the 14 activists were due to fly from Ben Gurion airport to Dublin via London this morning, with the remaining seven due to return tomorrow.
The activists were taken into custody last Friday when Israeli forces intercepted the MV Saoirse which was part of a joint Irish-Canadian flotilla bound for Gaza.
The department said that Israeli authorities had attributed the issues this morning to a problem arising with the carrier which prevented the activists from being able to fly.
A spokesman said Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore had met the Israeli ambassador yesterday to arrange for the earliest possible release of the activists.
He said the Irish ambassador to Israel Breifne O'Reilly had been instructed to reinforce the demand today. The ambassador has travelled to meet the activists and consular staff are arranging contact with relatives of the families.
The spokesman said responsibility for returning the activists rested with Israel but that the Irish embassy was seeking alternative arrangements for the group.
Irish Ship to Gaza co-ordinator Fintan Lane, former Leinster and Ireland rugby player Trevor Hogan, People Before Profit councillor Hugh Lewis, Siptu activist Mags O'Brien, Sinn Féin councillor Patrick Fitzgerald, and University of Limerick lecturer Zoe Lawlor were due to return today.
The remaining activists - among them Socialist MEP Paul Murphy, former Fianna Fáil TD Chris Andrews, artist Felim Egan, and Sinn Féin councillor John Hearne - were expected to return to Ireland tomorrow morning.
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