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Ireland Rebukes Israel's Seizure of Gaza Aid Flotilla
(MENAFN) Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee issued a sharp rebuke on Friday, denouncing the interception of vessels participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters off the Greek coast and demanding the immediate release of detained Irish nationals.
McEntee made her position unambiguous in a post on X, the US social media platform.
"I condemn the seizure of vessels participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters off the coast of Greece," Helen McEntee said on X.
The Irish foreign minister directed her demands squarely at Israeli authorities, calling on them to "immediately release all Irish citizens detained during this operation," and to "uphold their obligations under international law" while ensuring "the safety and welfare of all those on board."
Dublin moved swiftly on the diplomatic front. McEntee confirmed that officials from her department — including staff at the Irish Embassy in Athens — had already established contact with relevant authorities and stood prepared to deliver consular support to any Irish citizens returning to Greece in the wake of the incident.
"My clear priority is the safety and wellbeing of all Irish citizens involved," she further said.
A Mission to Break Gaza's Blockade
The Global Sumud Flotilla embarked on its humanitarian mission in stages — the first vessels departing Barcelona on April 12, with the primary fleet setting sail from the Italian island of Sicily on April 26. The flotilla's stated objective was to pierce Israel's longstanding naval blockade of Gaza, carrying aid to a population facing deepening deprivation.
Israel has maintained a suffocating blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2007, leaving the territory's 2.4 million inhabitants on the brink of famine. The blockade has been compounded by a devastating military offensive launched by the Israeli army in October 2023 — now entering its third year — which has killed more than 72,000 people, wounded over 172,000 others, and reduced vast swaths of the besieged enclave to rubble.
McEntee made her position unambiguous in a post on X, the US social media platform.
"I condemn the seizure of vessels participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters off the coast of Greece," Helen McEntee said on X.
The Irish foreign minister directed her demands squarely at Israeli authorities, calling on them to "immediately release all Irish citizens detained during this operation," and to "uphold their obligations under international law" while ensuring "the safety and welfare of all those on board."
Dublin moved swiftly on the diplomatic front. McEntee confirmed that officials from her department — including staff at the Irish Embassy in Athens — had already established contact with relevant authorities and stood prepared to deliver consular support to any Irish citizens returning to Greece in the wake of the incident.
"My clear priority is the safety and wellbeing of all Irish citizens involved," she further said.
A Mission to Break Gaza's Blockade
The Global Sumud Flotilla embarked on its humanitarian mission in stages — the first vessels departing Barcelona on April 12, with the primary fleet setting sail from the Italian island of Sicily on April 26. The flotilla's stated objective was to pierce Israel's longstanding naval blockade of Gaza, carrying aid to a population facing deepening deprivation.
Israel has maintained a suffocating blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2007, leaving the territory's 2.4 million inhabitants on the brink of famine. The blockade has been compounded by a devastating military offensive launched by the Israeli army in October 2023 — now entering its third year — which has killed more than 72,000 people, wounded over 172,000 others, and reduced vast swaths of the besieged enclave to rubble.
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