THE Irish president has expressed concern after it emerged her sister was one of dozens of activists to be kidnapped by Israel while taking part in a major aid flotilla to Gaza.
Dr Margaret Connolly, sister of Irish president Catherine Connolly, is among 12 Irish citizens on board the Global Sumud Flotilla, a humanitarian civilian mission which was sailing to Gaza with the aim of delivering much-needed aid.
On Monday morning, Israeli forces began intercepting the flotilla more than 250 nautical miles from Gaza, while sailing in international waters where Israel has no jurisdiction.
Dozens of activists are being held by Israel, and their whereabouts and condition are unknown. Organisers believe they will most likely be taken to Israel, where they will be held for a number of days before eventually being deported.
The National understands Dr Connolly was sailing on the same boat as Hughie Stirling, a 68-year-old activist from Ullapool in the Highlands.
President Connolly has said the incident is “quite upsetting” and while very proud of her sister, she is “very worried about her”.
Speaking to the media while on a visit to England, she said: "In relation to my sister, it's quite upsetting and I'm very worried about her.
"I'm also very concerned about her colleagues on board."
The Irish president added: "I've been very busy today, I've been in the Irish community centre in Hammersmith which was wonderful, a magnificent display, and then I met with King Charles, so I haven't really had a chance to get details in relation to my sister and indeed, equally importantly her colleagues on the boat."
In a pre-recorded message published after interception, Dr Connolly said: "I am so proud to be taking part in this flotilla. This is the largest one to date, and now we sail for Gaza to open a humanitarian pathway to bring much needed aid and medical supply to the people of Gaza.
"I feel utterly compelled – as a mother, a doctor, and as a human being – to help in this flotilla."
Ireland’s deputy premier Simon Harris said his thoughts are with the Irish president after the detention of her sister.
He said on Tuesday: “I was very struck by the president’s comments yesterday, because on a purely personal level, of course you’d be worried, and my heart goes out to President Connolly and her family, and indeed all of the families of those detained.
“What Israel has done is, in my view, illegal. It is, in my view, in breach of international law.
"Quite frankly, not even in my view, it is in breach of international law.”
Asked whether the Irish government should engage with Israel on the detention of the president’s sister, Harris said: “We’re at this long enough to know that Israel doesn’t really care very much for people’s words, does it?”
Meanwhile, Irish premier Micheal Martin said it is “wrong” and “unacceptable” that Irish citizens, including Connolly's sister, have been detained by Israeli forces.
He said the behaviour of Israel in international waters against the aid flotilla is “unacceptable” and that people have a right to protest and take part in a mission to highlight the “shocking” humanitarian issue in Gaza.
“In the first instance, what happened is absolutely unacceptable and is wrong,” Martin said ahead of Cabinet on Tuesday.
“We have condemned that as we have before where Israel intervenes in international waters and detains and essentially abducts people from the ships, and that’s unacceptable and the international rule of law has to apply.
“So, we will be raising this at European Union level in the context of other issues pertaining to Gaza and the West Bank in particular, and we hope to make progress at European Union level in relation to a number of issues in relation to Palestine, particularly in terms of sanctions on settlers, for example, who are to a large extent being facilitated by the Israeli government.”
