Martin condemns Israeli arrests

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has made representations to the Israeli embassy on behalf of Irish citizens detained in international waters last week as they attempted to deliver relief supplies to Gaza.

Mr Martin described the arrest and detention of the 14 Irish nationals at Givon prison in central Israel as "illegal" and "completely unacceptable."

Former rugby player Trevor Hogan, Socialist Party MEP Paul Murphy and several politicians were among the group on board the MV Saoirse when it was intercepted as it attempted to break the naval blockade on Gaza on Friday. A second vessel, the Canadian-registered Al Tahrir was also seized and towed to port.

The Fianna Fáil leader, whose party colleague, former TD Chris Andrews, is also among those being held, spoke to  the Israeli ambassador today. "I made clear to him my view that while we respect Israel and its efforts to protect its citizens, this latest attack on a legitimate protest is unjustifiable."

An official from the Irish embassy in Tel Aviv met the 14 on Saturday morning and the detainees were said to be in good health.

According to the Irish Ship to Gaza campaign this evening, six people who were detained on board the Irish vessel have been released or deported. They have been named as Majd Kayyal (Palestinian from Haifa), Lina Attalah (Journalist from Egypt), Casey James (Journalist from the US), Aimane Zoubir (Journalist from Morocco), Captain George Klontzas (Greece) and Captain Zacharias Stylianakis. No Irish citizens have been released or deported.

Mr Martin said there was no justification for the takeover of the MV Saoirse which was subsequently towed to the port of Ashdod by Israeli military.

“The arrest and detention of Irish citizens engaged in reasonable and legitimate protest in international waters is unacceptable. This issue is as simple as that. Wherever anyone stands on the wider issue of the Israeli - Palestinian conflict, there is no justification for what has been happening over the last week," Mr Martin said.

The activists were issued with deportation orders on Sunday morning but have reportedly refused to sign a visa-waiver form.

They include Socialist Party MEP Paul Murphy, former Fianna Fáil TD Chris Andrews, Siptu official Mags O’Brien, artist Felim Egan, People Before Profit councillor Hugh Lewis, Sinn Féin councillors Pat Fitzgerald and John Hearne, and Zoe Lawlor, who teaches at the University of Limerick.

Supporters of the activists claim the Government has not done enough to safeguard their well-being and are holding a picket this evening outside the Department of Foreign Affairs.