Taoiseach<\/a> Micheal Martin said there was \u201ca lot of anger\u201d across the EU at the video of the Gaza aid flotilla protesters\u2019 treatment, which he said had \u201cshocked the world\u201d.<\/p>\n He was speaking after a meeting with French President<\/a> Emmanuel Macron<\/a> in Paris, after which he said Mr Macron \u201cshared my concerns with the behaviour of Israel\u201d.<\/p>\n In a video shared on social media, Israel\u2019s national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is seen walking among some of the detainees and saying they should remain in prison for a long time.<\/p>\n The footage shows some people kneeling on the ground in tightly packed groups with their hands tied behind their backs.<\/p>\n The video and the detention of the flotilla participants has been condemned by senior Irish Government figures and across the European Union.<\/p>\n The Israeli government on Thursday released and deported hundreds of flotilla activists who attempted to breach Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. Outrage abroad over the activists’ treatment prompted several countries to summon Israeli envoys to hear their concerns.<\/p>\n About 420 activists departed Israel on planes bound for Turkey, where they landed Thursday evening in Istanbul. Wearing grey sweatsuits and Arab keffiyehs, they descended stairs to the runway flashing two-fingered salutes and chanting “Free Palestine.” Some appeared to be limping.All of the activists were expected to be taken for a medical checkup, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency reported.The Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement that “all foreign activists” from the flotilla had been deported.<\/p>\n Speaking in Paris on Thursday afternoon, Mr Martin said: \u201cIn terms of the most recent egregious behaviour and appalling and disgusting behaviour has been the treatment of those on the flotilla.<\/p>\n \u201cFirst of all, they were abducted in international waters, the way they had been treated in captivity is unacceptable, and then the behaviour of a government minister from Israel has been absolutely shocking, and has shocked the world.<\/p>\n \u201cBut add to that, which is far worse in our view, is the failure to fulfil phase one of the peace agreement, in terms of getting really significant volumes of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and then the continuing violence, elimination and displacement of Palestinians on the West Bank, and then you add what\u2019s happening in Lebanon in terms of displacement, in terms of reckless behaviour in respect of uniformed troops, and all of that really I think has angered a lot of European countries.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I think that the mood is changing. The precise mechanisms, if agreed on, or will be examined by Europe, remain to be determined.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Micheal](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2276928661...jpeg\")
Micheal Martin (L), Prime Minister of Ireland, seen from behind, is welcomed by Emmanuel Macron (R), (AFP\/Getty)<\/p>\n