President Connolly's sister detained as Israeli forces swoop on Gaza flotilla off Cyprus coast, campaigners say

A flotilla carrying humanitarian intentions toward Gaza reported that Israeli forces intercepted 10 boats within a 60-vessel group in international waters. The interception occurred about 70 nautical miles off Cyprus shortly after 9am Monday, and at least six of 15 Irish participants were among those detained. The flotilla said it lost contact with the intercepted boats. Videos posted from Dr Margaret Connolly and others appeared to have been recorded before detention. In her video, Connolly said she was kidnapped from her boat and held illegally in an Israeli prison, while urging support to free detained comrades and urging the Irish government to enact the Occupied Territories Bill. Organisers described the flotilla as the largest to date and said it aimed to open a humanitarian pathway for aid and medical supplies to Gaza.

"If you are watching this video, it means I have been kidnapped from my boat in the flotilla by the Israeli occupying forces, and I'm now being held illegally in an Israeli prison. I am so proud to be taking part in this flotilla -it is the largest to date. Thousands of people all over the world - citizens like you and me - have volunteered their services to help with 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. I ask you all to support the call to immediately free my comrades in prison. I wish to appeal to the Irish government to enact the Occupied Territories Bill without fail. The cause of Palestine is the moral compass of our time, it is what makes us human. Their humanity is our humanity."

"The Global Sumud Flotilla said that 10 boats in a 60-vessel flotilla were intercepted in international waters and boarded by Israeli forces shortly after 9am on Monday. Organisers said the interception happened approximately 70 nautical miles off Cyprus, with at least six of 15 Irish participants among those detained. The Global Sumud Flotilla said it has lost contact with the intercepted boats."

"The flotilla has posted videos from Dr Connolly and five others, which appear to have been recorded in advance of their detention. In her video, Dr Connolly said: "If you are watching this video, it means I have been kidnapped from my boat in the flotilla by the Israeli occupying forces, and I'm now being held illegally in an Israeli prison.""

Read at Irish Independent