![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-2233240990.jpg\")
<\/p>\nIrish novelist Naoise Dolan who is onboard says \u2018we need to keep all eyes on Gaza\u2019Sinn F\u00e9in senator Chris Andrew also onboard flotilla\n<\/p>\n
The Global Sumud Flotilla is using about 50 civilian boats to try and break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. Many lawyers and activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, and Irish activists, are on board.<\/p>\n
“We have sent one ship and another is on its way, ready for any eventuality,” Italy’s Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said in a speech to the lower house of parliament.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The flotilla departed earlier this month from Barcelona’s Moll de la Fusta with some 300 people, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau. Photo: Getty <\/p>\n
Today’s News in 90 Seconds – September 25th <\/p>\n
Italy sent a first frigate on Wednesday, hours after the GSF said it was targeted by drones that dropped stun grenades and itching powder, in international waters 30 nautical miles (56 km) off the Greek island of Gavdos. It then sent a second navy ship.<\/p>\n
Spain also decided to send a military warship to protect the flotilla.<\/p>\n
The GSF said early on Thursday that its vessels were sailing at slow speed in Greek territorial waters, had been subjected to “moderate drone activity” during the night, and were heading towards international waters “later today”.<\/p>\n
Irish novelist Naoise Dolan is onboard the flotilla, the Dubliner (33) told the Irish Independent: \u201cIsrael is currently committing ever graver atrocities as it advances its assault on Gaza City.<\/p>\n
“We know it has a history of attacking the flotilla and then following it up immediately with far graver assaults in Gaza.<\/p>\n
“It\u2019s what happened after the first two drone strikes in Tunisia: Israel proceeded to significantly intensify its forced displacement in North Gaza, as well as bombing Quatar, Syria and Lebanon.<\/p>\n
“As of 6pm [Wednesday], Israel has killed 84 people in Gaza so far today, and that\u2019s only the ones that medics have identified; there could be far more under the rubble.<\/p>\n
“We need to keep all eyes on Gaza. We cannot let their attacks on the flotilla deflect international attention from the genocide. Nor will those of us sailing be deterred: we stand with Palestinians and with human dignity no matter what.\u201d<\/p>\n
It comes as Justice Minister Jim O\u2019Callaghan accused the Israeli government of \u201cunlawfully attacking\u201d the protest flotilla in international waters.<\/p>\n
The D\u00e1il was told yesterday that Sinn F\u00e9in senator Chris Andrew is aboard a boat in the flotilla that was targeted by multiple drones and “struck four times\u201d on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in leader Mary Lou McDonald told the Dail: \u201cLast night, the Israelis attacked a peaceful flotilla that includes a member of the Oireachtas \u2013 our colleague Senator Chris Andrews. This flotilla is in imminent danger. There is, I think, over 20 Irish citizens on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Responding to Ms McDonald as he took Leaders\u2019 Questions on behalf of the Government, Justice Minister Jim O\u2019Callaghan expressed \u201cconcern\u201d for his former constituency colleague, Mr Andrews.<\/p>\n
\u201cDeputy McDonald mentioned how the flotilla of people who are going out lawfully protesting about the slaughter in Gaza was attacked last night by Israeli forces.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat this seems to show is that the Israeli government are prepared to attack non-combatants, whether they\u2019re in Gaza or whether they\u2019re on international waters.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd certainly on behalf of the Irish Government, I want to condemn the actions of the Israeli government in unlawfully attacking a lawful flotilla that is seeking to engage in peaceful activity on international waters.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms McDonald took up the \u201cserious development\u201d again in the subsequent session on policy and legislation.<\/p>\n
She said she had spoken to Mr Andrews on Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis boat, the Spectre, was hit by four Israeli drones. I understand that 11 devices hit at that and other boats on the flotilla. These are clearly acts of intimidation, of menace, of threat.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey represent yet another brazen violation of international law, and it\u2019s just simply a symptom of the impunity gifted to [Benjamin] Netanyahu, gifted to Israel, to their apartheid, to their occupation and now to their ongoing genocide. \u201d<\/p>\n
She said the flotilla was a \u201cmission of mercy\u201d to break the blockade of Gaza and deliver aid as well as put pressure on Israel \u201cto stop the genocide\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mr O\u2019Callaghan said it was \u201cobviously a very traumatic event\u201d for all on board the flotilla.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a reflection of the contempt that Israel has for people who are non-combatants, whether they are in Gaza or whether they are on international waters.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said both Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin and T\u00e1naiste Simon Harris were \u201cvery concerned about the overnight attack on the flotilla\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo unlawful or violent act should be taken against the flotilla, and I would urge Israel to respect international law and international humanitarian law.<\/p>\n
\u201cOfficials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are closely monitoring the situation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik said: \u201cAll our thoughts are with those on the flotilla, and I think it\u2019s hugely important that Ireland does all it can on the world stage to ensure the safety of those on board.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Harris said the Israeli attack on the flotilla is a \u201cbreach of international law\u201d and has spoken with his EU counterparts about raising our concerns in Tel Aviv.<\/p>\n
Mr Harris said: \u201cI am extremely concerned by developments involving the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) and have been kept updated overnight. The welfare and safety of people aboard that flotilla has to be a priority of the international community.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy officials are in direct contact with a designated Government point of contact for the Global Movement To Gaza delegation of the GSF. Our clear priority is to ensure the welfare of our citizens. My Department will provide consular assistance to any Irish citizens affected.<\/p>\n
“What has happened is clearly not acceptable. It is clear what international law allows and does not allow, and it is clearly a breach of international law to have any activity that is targeting civilians or a humanitarian flotilla.\u201d<\/p>\n
Israel\u2019s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been contacted for comment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Irish novelist Naoise Dolan who is onboard says \u2018we need to keep all eyes on Gaza\u2019Sinn F\u00e9in senator…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":84674,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[9,10,13,14,27795,6,26735,11,12,15,16,16594,5765,5,44,7,8,65,66,67],"class_list":{"0":"post-84673","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world","8":"tag-breaking-news","9":"tag-breakingnews","10":"tag-featured-news","11":"tag-featurednews","12":"tag-greta-thunberg","13":"tag-headlines","14":"tag-jim-ocallaghan","15":"tag-latest-news","16":"tag-latestnews","17":"tag-main-news","18":"tag-mainnews","19":"tag-mary-lou-mcdonald","20":"tag-micheal-martin","21":"tag-news","22":"tag-simon-harris","23":"tag-top-stories","24":"tag-topstories","25":"tag-world","26":"tag-world-news","27":"tag-worldnews"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84673","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=84673"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84673\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/84674"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=84673"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=84673"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=84673"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}