Israeli forces intercepted a Gaza-bound aid flotilla and “illegally kidnapped” eight Irish citizens, including the sister of Ireland’s President Catherine Connolly, organizers said Monday.
Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla on Monday after it sailed from Türkiye last week. The Global Sumud Flotilla vessels are the latest in a string of attempts by activists to breach Israel's deadly blockade of the Palestinian territory.
Around 50 ships had departed from southwestern Türkiye on Thursday. Some 10 boats from the convoy were intercepted in international waters and boarded by Israeli forces earlier Monday.
Organizers said the interception took place around 70 nautical miles off the island of Cyprus, with at least six of the 15 Irish participants detained.
"Global Sumud Flotilla is under attack!" the group wrote on X.
