By Maeve McTaggart, Darragh Nolan And Laura Lynott

Copyright independent

Some 14 Irish citizens are among those being held after the Israeli military swooped on a flotilla of vessels carrying peace activists aiming to break the Israeli siege of Gaza.

Dolan (33) said she still expects to reach Gaza in seven days – as part of a fleet of eight boats carrying 60 peace activists, intent on bringing aid to the bombarded enclave.

“I lost contact with my friend, Cork trade unionist, Donna Schwarz, at around 5am,” Ms Dolan told the Irish Independent. “She told me her boat was still going and was around 15 nautical miles from Gaza.

“But I haven’t been able to get in contact with her since, so I’m concerned they were intercepted illegally by Israel.

“The Irish Government must protect my friends, who’ve been illegally taken by Israel.”

Footage released by Israel later showed one member of the Israeli navy handing a dejected looking Greta Thunberg, a rain jacket.

Ms Dolan said: “This is Israeli propaganda because my friends can’t speak right now. It’s vital the Irish Government orders the release of Irish citizens, who’ve been illegally taken by Israel and that all governments call for the immediate release of their citizens.

“The Irish Government needs to act unilaterally now and not wait for Europe. It needs to sanction Israel. “The Irish Government must also establish a sea corridor to Gaza with the Irish navy, to deliver aid to Gaza. We can’t wait any longer. We must end the genocide in Gaza.”

Among the Irish captured by Israel are Sinn Fein Senator Chris Andrews, Cork comedian Tadgh Hickey, poet Sarah Clancy, writer Louise Heaney, Diarmuid MacDubhghlais, Thomas McCune and Tara O’Grady.

There were 22 Irish citizens on board the Global Sumud Flotilla. Video footage showed how calmly Mr Hickey responded, with his hands up, when his vessel was intercepted. The participants were all trained intensively on how to respond and to stay as calm as possible.

There are also reports of Turkish citizens joining the flotilla today to travel to Gaza.

Ms Dolan said: “We’ve shown this is possible and we want others to join to get to Gaza. We won’t stop until the blockade is broken and aid gets into Gaza.

“It’s crucial that the people in Gaza see that the world cares. We want them to see us from their shores. “We need to show we won’t be bullied. We are more determined to get there than ever.”

As some of her friends were being captured last night – reportedly throwing their mobile phones into the sea – to avoid Israel obtaining their private data – Ms Dolan was carrying out a ‘drone watch.’

“I don’t have time to be afraid,” the novelist said. “Our morale is high. When the interceptions were taking place, I was watching out for drones on deck. That was my job and I did it. And my job now is to get the message out that genocide is happening in Gaza. All routes of escape are closed.

“I’m asking the Irish public to protest, to get out there, to escalate and ramp up whatever you can. To help in any way you can, whatever that may be.

“We need to stop the genocide. We need to get aid in and we need Palestinian people to self determine their own path, with dignity and determine their own future – not to be dictated by a man who’s hated in the Middle East, Tony Blair – with a mockery of a peace plan.”

Simon Harris, who is also the Foreign Affairs Minister, said there may be two other citizens whose presence is still being verified.

There are no reports of injuries among the Irish citizens, he said.

Meanwhile, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said Israel’s interception of the aid flotilla would constitute a breach of international maritime law if it happened in international waters.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, made up of 43 boats and 500 activists at its height, is attempting to carry humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The vessels had been sailing in international waters north of Egypt and had entered what activists and others called a “danger zone”.

While still in international waters, it is an area where the Israeli navy has in the past stopped other boats attempting to break its blockade, and which the flotilla has been warned not to cross.

Greta Thunberg, the Swedish climate campaigner, and her friends are “safe and healthy”, the foreign ministry said in a post on X alongside a video that appeared to show Ms Thunberg with several masked and armed Israeli military personnel.

Irish citizens – including Sinn Féin senator Chris Andrews, author Naoise Dolan and -comedian Tadhg Hickey – are aboard the flotilla.

Organisers said not all vessels were intercepted in the initial response and at least one had proceeded towards Gaza.

Sinn Fein senator Chris Andrews was among those detained after the boat he was on was boarded.

Mr Andrews had been on the Spectre which was intercepted by Israeli forces off the coast of Egypt.

Several activists posted videos on social media in which they said Israeli naval vessels were approaching the flotilla and ordering them to turn their engines off.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald told reporters on Thursday: “We lost contact with Chris yesterday evening, approximately 30 minutes before the boat he was on was illegally intercepted. We understand that he and others have been illegally detained at sea by the Israelis.

“There must be a reckoning for Israel. Ireland stands with the people of Gaza and Palestine. We stand against genocide, occupation and brutalisation.”

A special arrangement was put in place for Leaders’ Questions in Ireland’s Dail parliament in Thursday with the timeslot dedicated to debate on the latest developments.

Meanwhile, a demonstration was also held outside the gates of Leinster House, where the Dail is located, while protesters were also blocking Dublin Port on Thursday evening.

Mr Harris said it is his understanding that those detained will be given the option to leave immediately and if not they will have a hearing within 72 hours, but this may be delayed due to the religious holiday of Yom Kippur.

He said his officials had been instructed to register “strong condemnation of the actions of the Israeli authorities” and to highlight an “absolute expectation” that the welfare of the citizens is protected.

He said: “Ireland signed a joint statement that recalls that any violation of international law and human rights of the participants in the flotilla, including attacks against the vessels in international waters or illegal detention, will lead to accountability.

“This is our position, and it still stands. International law matters must be upheld and I will consider with counterparts how best to advance this.

“Let me be clear, these are Irish men and women who sought to deliver aid, who acted on conscience, and who now find themselves in uncertain and potentially dangerous circumstances.

“The inhumanity of a blockade that starves a people of hope and aid, and the inhumanity of seeing peaceful activists detained while simply seeking to relieve suffering.

“Government remains deeply and continuously engaged on this issue, working tirelessly to safeguard the welfare of our citizens.”

Mr Harris criticised the European Union’s response to the flotilla’s interception: “I am concerned that the European Union has made zero comment, absolutely zero comment.”

He said this was despite hundreds of European citizens being on board the vessels.

Earlier, Mr Martin said he was receiving ongoing briefings on the matter, adding that those on the flotilla posed no danger to anybody.

Speaking to reporters in Copenhagen, he said it is important those on board are treated properly.

“It’s a humanitarian mission, no threat to anybody other than to highlight and also to bring humanitarian aid into the people of Gaza.

“It underlines the absolute imperative of getting humanitarian aid into Gaza as quickly as possible under the auspices of the United Nations and the Red Crescent, as outlined in the peace proposals that emanated from the United States in consultation with the Arab states.”

Asked if it was a breach of international maritime law, Mr Martin replied: “If it happened in international waters, yes.”

He said the Department of Foreign Affairs had consistently advised against people visiting the area “because of the obvious dangers”.

He added: “I think the paramount consideration has to be the safety of all those on the flotilla.”

A second flotilla is due to depart for Gaza in the coming days with more Irish citizens expected to be on board.