Tánaiste Simon Harris has said he is “extremely concerned by developments involving the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) and says “the welfare and safety of people aboard that flotilla has to be a priority of the international community”.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One on Wednesday (Sept 23), poet and activist Sarah Clancy from Galway said that nine or ten boats in the flotilla were hit by projectiles that emitted smoke dropped from the drones.
As Afloat has reported, Clancy is one of a number of Irish participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), comprising about 51 vessels which are currently off Crete en route to Gaza with aid.
Irish writer Naoise Dolan is also on Thousand Madleens to Gaza flotilla which was due to set sail this week for Gaza from Catania in Sicily, along with vessels in the Freedom Flotilla Coalition
Clancy told RTÉ Radio 1 that harassment started when VHF radios were jammed and “they started playing ABBA music instead of the usual notifications”.
“Then very shortly after that, people spotted drones all around in the sky. A large number of drones," she said.
"They were closer to us than they had been the nights before. Then a few of the boats started reporting that they had been hit by things from drones."
Ms Clancy said the vessel she is on, the Spectator, was hit four times by three different drones by objects that emitted smoke smelling like sulphur.
Mr Harris said in a statement on Wednesday evening that his 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,”he said.
“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,”he said.
“This morning in New York, I have spoken directly with the EU’s High Representative and Vice President Kaja Kallas and to EU counterparts about collectively raising our concerns in Tel Aviv and considering what can be done to ensure the safety and well-being of all those on board the flotilla,”he continued.
“I also intend to raise the matter publicly in my intervention at the United Nations during the Global Alliance for Implementation of the Two-State Solution meeting,”Harris said.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said she is "very concerned" for the safety of those travelling on the Gaza-bound aid flotilla, with party colleague Chris Andrews among over 20 Irish citizens on board various vessels.
Andrews, who is on board the ship 'The Sceptre', said it was struck four times by drones.
He has called on the Irish government to "arrange for an observer vessel to accompany the flotilla to ensure that Israel does not violate the human rights of its participants".
McDonald said that attacks occurred in international waters, and “there is no doubt that the Israeli targeting of the flotilla defies international law.
"They are acts of intimidation and menace,” she said.
McDonald said it was "absolutely essential that the Irish Government and others confront Netanyahu and confront Israel".
