3 Irish safe after Israeli assault on Freedom Flotilla – 2 refuse deportation, still in detention
Reports have reached us that the three Irish passengers kidnapped this morning by Israeli commandos are all unhurt. Shane Dillon is on a plane back to Ireland, while Dr Fintan Lane and Fiachra O Luain have both contested deportation and are now in an Israeli detention camp and will be brought to court within 72 hours. The three were kidnapped as part of the Israeli attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla earlier today that killed up to 19 people, according to reports.
Dr Lane’s family received a call from Minister Michael Martin's office following his meeting with the Israeli Ambassador. The Ambassador informed Minister Martin that all there Irish passengers were not injured.
Speaking about his son’s detention, Dr. Lane’s father Jim said: “I am proud of my son, not only for going on this solidarity mission to Gaza, but also for refusing deportation. He is making a point that Israel should have no control over who enters Gaza. He has done nothing wrong and I support him. Furthermore, it is my belief that the United States should stop giving carte blanche to the Israeli state, for it is this support that gives Israel the confidence to act with such impunity.”
There are unconfirmed reports that there may be several other Irish Muslim participants currently being detained, but we are awaiting further news on this.
The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) will this evening at stage a demonstration in protest over the Israeli attack, which took place in international waters. The demonstrators will assemble at 6pm at the Spire on O’Connell St, and will march from there to the Israeli Embassy in Ballsbridge.
Speakers at the demo will be ICTU President Jack O’Connor, Aengus O Snodaigh TD, Chris Andrews TD, Sen. Mark Daly, the Lord Mayor of Dublin Emer Costello and Freda Hughes of the IPSC. Mr Andrews, Mr O Snodaigh and Mr Daly were refused access to the flotilla by the Cypriot authorities after coming under severe pressure from Israel.
Protestors will be calling for the expulsion of the Israeli Ambassador to Ireland, Zion Evrony, and for action to be taken by the Irish government against Israel. They will also be calling on Irish civil society and the trade union movement to support the Palestinian call for a campaign of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel until it abides by international law and ends its illegal occupation.
international |
rights, freedoms and repression |
news report
Monday May 31, 2010 17:48
by Kev - IPSC
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Comments (11 of 11)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11Heartening to read, Fintan and Fiachra have the obdurate courage of their convictions - no point in returning like lambs after the slaughter, they're toughing it out like lions and due respect accordingly.?
Very, very proud of you all.
I watched the whole attack live on TV, and it made me sick.
Your courage is something that you can feel very proud of.
John
Much respect for your part in this courageous action against the blockade. Wish I had been there too.
any word on the Irish Muslim passengers? and why the distinction??
Ban Ki-moon's hands will be red raw from all the handwringing he will be doing. Brian Cowen and Michael Martin no more give a shit than David Ben-Gurion would if he were alive today. This war crime will pass, much like the massacres of the Burmese and Tibetan protestors we witnessed in previous years.
Egypt opens Gaza border
The MV Rachel Corrie and 2 other ships are still en route to Gaza to break the siege! Right now as well as supporting those in prison in Israel, we should also be trying to get as much international media and political attention on this so as to increase their chances of success.
The distinction is because the Muslims will almost certainly be treated different than Non-Muslim 'White' people - it is probably why the racist Israelis felt comfortable attacking the Turkish ship in the first place, they probably reasoned that since most Turks are Muslim massacring the Turkish Muslims would be just fine and dandy and the consequences would not be too onerous compared to massacring a boat load of 'white' westerners
Irish citizen injured in airport scuffle
http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0603/mideast.html
At least one Irish citizen deported from Israel was slightly injured in scuffles with Israeli security personnel at Tel Aviv airport late last night.
Reports are sketchy but it appears trouble broke out as the detainees were about to board a Turkish plane bound for Istanbul.
The flight departed shortly afterwards carrying three of the five Irish passport holders. One other, who has diabetes, was taken out earlier.
The fifth is still in Israel because of problems with his passport.
Four of the five Irish are now in Turkey. Arrangements are being made to get them home, though it is understood one of the dual passport holders wants to fly onto Lebanon.
The planes were also carrying the bodies of nine activists killed when Israeli commandos took control of the six aid vessels.
Seized Gaza flotilla activists arrive in Turkey from Israel
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0603/....html
"We've been scared, frightened, kidnapped and attacked with battleships while we were taking aid to needy people in Gaza," said Mustafa Ahmet, a British citizen of Turkish origin.
As activists descended from the planes at Istanbul's Ataturk airport they lifted their arms in defiance, but afterwards some were overcome with emotion and wept.
Several activists suggested the death toll was higher than nine, and accused the Israeli army of hiding bodies and destroying forensic evidence.
"The soldiers shot a doctor who wanted to surrender and they threw dead bodies into the sea. We still don't know what happened to them," said Bulent Yildirim, chairman of the IHH, the Turkish Islamic charity that organised the convoy.
photo of Irish activist Al Mahdi Alharati gestures as he is taken to a hospital in Ankara after arriving in Turkey on a flight from Israel. (times)
Irish activist Al Mahdi Alharati gestures as he is taken to a hospital in Ankara after arriving in Turkey on a flight from Israel. (times)
9.28 update - Two Irish citizens deported from Israel were injured in scuffles with Israeli security personnel at Tel Aviv airport late last night.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0603/mideast.html
Fiachra O'Luain was treated in hospital in Istanbul for injuries he is understood to have sustained at Ben Gurion Airport in the lead-up to his being deported from Israel.
His injuries are understood not to be serious.
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Mr O'Luain has been visited by officials from the Irish diplomatic service.
The family of Libyan-born Irish citizen Al Mahdi Al Harati say that he called them from Turkish hospital in the early hours of this morning.
It was the first time they had heard from Mr Al Harati since he was detained by the Israeli authorities.
Housam Najjair, his brother-in-law, said that Mr Al Harati is being treated in the intensive care unit of Ankara's Ataturk Hospital, after being beaten about the head and groin while in Israeli custody.
The family, who live in Firhouse in Dublin, expect Mr Al Harati to be discharged from hospital in two or three days.