The daughter of an Irish man who was on an aid flotilla heading for Gaza, which was intercepted by the Israeli military earlier this week, has said his family is anxious to hear from him.<\/p>\n
Dozens of activists disembarked this morning on Crete, according to an AFP journalist.<\/p>\n
Israel’s foreign ministry earlier said around 175 activists had been taken off more than 20 boats. <\/p>\n
Organisers of the aid flotilla say all but two of the 175 activists were released.<\/p>\n
It is understood the seven Irish people who were detained are among those released.<\/p>\n
Robert Murphy was one of those sailing as part of flotilla when it was intercepted in international waters off Crete, on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n
His daughter, Natalie Murphy, said she and her family have not been in contact with him since then.<\/p>\n
Speaking on RT\u00c9’s Morning Ireland, she said her father has been involved with the flotilla for a year and departed a month ago from Barcelona.<\/p>\n
“We have been in contact every day. He has been able to WhatsApp us, send us messages, keep us updated on the progress,” she said.<\/p>\n
Ms Murphy said that was “all going fine until Wednesday night”, adding that the family have not heard from him since 10pm that night.<\/p>\n
She said her father was never really involved in politics before taking part in the flotilla.<\/p>\n
“But I think just seeing the ongoing devastation and genocide against the Palestinian people really, really angered him.<\/p>\n
“Particularly, the children. The poor defenceless children who can\u2019t protect themselves just really ignited this fire in his belly.”<\/p>\n
Ms Murphy said her father had been looking for a way to contribute and described his actions as “so admirable” and said she was “so proud”.<\/p>\n
“He is definitely on the right side of history, but you can’t help but feel anxious. Can\u2019t help but worry what is going to happen \u2026 the unexpected can happen,” she said.<\/p>\n
When asked if she told him not to go, she said: “He really wanted to do this but there is only so much you can say to somebody.”<\/p>\n
Watch: Irish woman describes interception of Gaza aid flotilla by Israel<\/b><\/p>\n
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Ms Murphy said the family had seen rumours on social media that boats had been intercepted by drones and boarded by men with guns.<\/p>\n
She said her family have been following the Global Sumud Flotilla tracker online.<\/p>\n
“His boat, the boat he was on, called the Magic Boat, it just went silent,” she said.<\/p>\n
Ms Murphy said they are in contact with the organisers, who said they are assuming that if there has been no contact for four hours, that it was intercepted.<\/p>\n
“We weren\u2019t able to get through to him on the phone \u2026 we have just assumed at that point that he had been captured,” she added.<\/p>\n
She said being boarded in darkness “with a gun in your face must be so terrifying”.<\/p>\n
“We still haven’t actually spoken to him, which we are so anxious to just hear from him at this point,” she said.<\/p>\n
Ms Murphy said she understands that the boat is being taken to Crete, and that the aim is that they will be released this morning, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.<\/p>\n
Ms Murphy said she was astounded that she has not heard a public statement from the Government on this after “Irish citizens were captured unlawfully”.<\/p>\n
“There has been absolute silence \u2026 it is really difficult \u2026 when you are in this situation with your dad, it is really upsetting to feel like your Government hasn’t backed you in that regard. We are angry about it,” she said.<\/p>\n
In a post on X, the Minister for Foreign Affairs condemned the seizure of the flotilla vessels.<\/p>\n
Helen McEntee said she was calling on “the Israeli authorities to immediately release all Irish citizens detained during this operation, to uphold their obligations under international law, and to guarantee the safety and welfare of all those on board.”<\/p>\n
\nI condemn the seizure of vessels participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters off the coast of Greece.<\/p>\n