Irish citizens who were detained after their Gaza-bound flotilla was intercepted by Israeli forces have been denied access to lawyers, the Dáil has heard.
Sinn Féin foreign affairs spokesman Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire says he has received confirmation that a legal firm had received calls from participants “that immigration authorities have already begun conducting hearings on their deportation and detention orders in the Ashdod port”, without prior notice to their lawyers.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris said he understands Irish citizens had identified potential sources of legal representation on the ground, and “I’ll certainly take that up as soon as I leave here.”
Israeli forces have intercepted more than 30 boats carrying aid and foreign activists, including Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg, to Gaza. Organisers have accused Israel of the “illegal abduction” of Irish citizens.
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The names of nine Irish citizens were released by organisers, who said they had been detained when their boats were intercepted.
These were: Colm Peter Byrne on board the Hio, Cormac Kevin O’Daly on board the Yulara, Louise Heaney on the Dir Yassine, Caitríona Graham on the Aurora, Sinn Féin Senator Christopher Andrews and Sarah Catherine Clancy on board the Spectre, Tara O’Grady on the Alma, and Diarmuid Mac Dubhglais and Thomas McCune on the Sirius.
A further six Irish people were on board the Amsterdam, Fair Lady, Ohwayla, Meteque and Paola I, which are assumed, but not confirmed to be, intercepted. These are Donna Marie Schwarz, Patrick Kelly, Patrick O’Donovan, Tara Rose Sheehy, Anthony (Tadgh) Hickey, and Mary [sometimes named as Maureen] Almai.
Speaking in the Dáil, Mr Harris said at least 14 Irish citizens are among those who have been “intercepted and detained” by Israel.
He said “there may be two other citizens whose presence is still being verified” but he expected they were also detained.
Mr Harris said there are no reports of any injuries among the Irish but said “I am very conscious of the volatile and dangerous environment.” The Department of Justice has established a dedicated contact point for the families of those detained.
He said he has “instructed my officials to contact the non-resident Irish Ambassador to Israel to register our strong condemnation of the actions of the Israeli authorities and to highlight our absolute expectation that the welfare of our citizens is protected in line with international law”.
The Israeli foreign ministry said that those who had been detained were “being transferred to an Israeli port”.
The flotilla members “are making their way safely and peacefully to Israel, where their deportation procedures to Europe will begin. The passengers are safe and in good health,” the ministry said.
Flotilla organisers released pre-recorded videos of the passengers on board the boats as they were intercepted, stating their names and nationality.
[ Gaza flotilla: Israel intercepts 39 aid boats, organisers sayOpens in new window ]
Passenger Donna Schwarz said: “I’m from Ireland, if you are watching this video I have been kidnapped by the IOF and brought to Israel against my will. Tell my Government to end its complicity with Israel and to bring me home. Stop the genocide.”
The Government has been criticised in the Dáil for a lack of intervention on the issue. Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan questioned why it did not send some personnel “just to observe what was happening and to try to help safeguard those Irish citizens”.
Mr Harris said a Spanish vessel was in the area and he did not believe “it would have made any material difference” as their vessel had to withdraw.
[ ‘Red, red, red. They are here’: The beginning of the end of the Gaza aid flotillaOpens in new window ]
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said Israel could not be trusted and the Irish ambassador had to carefully monitor the situation.
Mr Murphy, who has participated in previous flotillas to Gaza, said his experience was that, in front of the Irish ambassador, all sorts of commitments were made to them, that they would not be strip-searched, and there would be no mistreatment.
“Once the ambassador was gone, all of that was gone, we were strip-searched.”
Meanwhile, in a Seanad debate, Independent Senator Frances Black said the Government should demand compensation “for all kidnapped Irish citizens from Israel for this illegal act”.
Ms Black, who in 2018 drafted the original Occupied Territories Bill to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements, also called for the EU to immediately suspend the EU Israel Co-operation Agreement and enact her legislation.
“We need to get the Occupied Territories Bill passed as soon as possible,” which “would hand an unbelievable signal to the Palestinian people”.
She expressed surprise the EU had not made a statement on the illegal interception of the flotilla. “We in Ireland need to put pressure on the EU and make a statement that this is absolutely unacceptable.”
In the Dáil, Mr Harris expressed concern that the EU “has made zero comment ... when there are hundreds of European Union citizens now detained”.
He said he would pursue the matter with EU high representative Kaja Kallas. “It is really important that the European Union makes it known to Israel that we expect the rights of European citizens, including Irish citizens, to be respected.”
