Tánaiste Simon Harris has said he remains in contact with EU and international partners regarding assistance, if necessary, for Irish citizens affected by any attacks on the aid flotilla bound for Gaza.
In a statement issued last night (Tues), Mr Harris said he “had the opportunity to meet with a number of the relatives of Irish participants involved in the Global Sumud Flotilla”.
“I was glad to be able to express my solidarity with their desire to address the urgent humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza,” he said.
“We discussed our concern regarding the possibility of any unlawful or violent acts being taken against the flotilla. I have consistently called on all parties to respect international law and international humanitarian law and continue to do so,”he said.
“I also informed them that I had once again contacted the EU’s High Representative and Vice President Kaja Kallas to urge the EU to collectively raise our concerns for the safety and well-being of all those on board,”he continued.
“I remain in contact with EU and international partners, including my Spanish counterpart, regarding assistance for Irish citizens affected, should that become necessary,” Mr Harris said.
“The provision of consular assistance is a cornerstone of the work of my department and the clear priority remains the welfare of Irish citizens. Officials in our embassy in Tel Aviv and the Consular Assistance Unit are closely monitoring the situation and will provide all possible assistance,”he said.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, involving over 20 Irish citizens, along with Europeans, north Americans and environmental activist Greta Thunberg, was struck last Wednesday in international waters off Crete by drones armed with stun grenades and irritants, which caused damage but no injuries. Vessels in the flotilla effected repairs in Greek waters and have set sail again for Gaza.
Flotilla organizers blamed Israel for last week’s drone attacks. The Times of Israel has reported that the Israeli Foreign Ministry did not respond directly to the accusation, but invited the flotilla to drop humanitarian aid for Israel to take to Gaza, or face consequences.
Irish writer Naoise Dolan is a participant on the Thousand Madleens flotilla, which is sailing behind the Global Sumud Flotilla involving over 20 Irish citizens.
Writing in The Guardian yesterday, Dolan said her vessel, named Milad after Milad Walid Daqqa, the daughter of a long-term imprisoned Palestinian politician and writer, was still in Italian waters.
“The Italian and Spanish navy ships that have been dispatched to accompany us will hopefully increase our odds of safe passage and delivery. If this serves Palestinians by helping to get aid to them, it is at least some form of practical support,”Dolan wrote.
“ These countries, and Europe as a whole, still urgently need to fully sanction Israel. The Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, recently described our mission as “gratuitous, dangerous and irresponsible”. What about a country that,according to doctors' testimonies, shoots children dead with a single targeted bullet to the head or chest?”
Read her full report in The Guardian here
