Taoiseach Condemns Seizure of Gaza Aid Flotilla

Ireland’s Taoiseach has denounced the Israeli military’s interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in international waters earlier this week, calling the operation unacceptable.

Speaking in Athlone, Micheál Martin said the incident could not go unanswered.

“I want to condemn the seizure of the flotilla in what appears to be international waters, it’s not acceptable.

“I think the international community have to call it out and we will be raising it at European level.

It is understood that seven Irish citizens, among the 175 people detained, were released this morning.

Earlier, the daughter of Irish participant Robert Murphy, who was aboard the flotilla, said the family is desperately waiting for word from him.

Natalie Murphy said neither she nor other relatives had heard from him since Wednesday night.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, she said her father had been involved with the flotilla for a year and left Barcelona a month ago.

“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.

Ms Murphy said everything had been “all going fine until Wednesday night”, adding that the family has had no contact with him since 10pm that evening.

She said her father had not previously been especially political before joining the flotilla effort.

“But I think just seeing the ongoing devastation and genocide against the Palestinian people really, really angered him.

“Particularly, the children. The poor defenceless children who can’t protect themselves just really ignited this fire in his belly.”

Ms Murphy said her father had been searching for a way to help, describing what he had done as “so admirable” and saying she was “so proud”.

“He is definitely on the right side of history, but you can’t help but feel anxious. Can’t help but worry what is going to happen … the unexpected can happen,” she said.

Asked whether she urged him not to go, she replied: “He really wanted to do this but there is only so much you can say to somebody.”

Watch: Irish woman describes interception of Gaza aid flotilla by Israel

Ms Murphy said the family had been seeing social media reports suggesting boats were intercepted by drones and boarded by armed men.

She said relatives have been tracking the flotilla’s progress through the Global Sumud Flotilla tracker online.

“His boat, the boat he was on, called the Magic Boat, it just went silent,” she said.

Ms Murphy said organisers had told the family they were working on the assumption that a loss of contact lasting four hours meant the vessel had been intercepted.

“We weren’t able to get through to him on the phone … we have just assumed at that point that he had been captured,” she added.

She said the thought of being boarded in darkness “with a gun in your face must be so terrifying”.

“We still haven’t actually spoken to him, which we are so anxious to just hear from him at this point,” she said.

Ms Murphy said she understood the boat was being taken to Crete and that, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs, those on board were expected to be released this morning.

She also said she was stunned not to have heard a public statement from the Government after, as she put it, “Irish citizens were captured unlawfully”.

“There has been absolute silence … it is really difficult … 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.

In a post on X, the Minister for Foreign Affairs condemned the seizure of the flotilla vessels.

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.”

I condemn the seizure of vessels participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters off the coast of Greece.

— Helen McEntee TD (@HMcEntee) May 1, 2026

Yesterday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said it is providing consular assistance to impacted Irish citizens

In a statement, the department added that it is “actively monitoring the situation regarding the Global Sumud Flotilla and are engaging with the relevant authorities”.

The sister of President Catherine Connolly, Margaret Connolly, is on board one of the vessels that is part of the flotilla.

It is understood that the ship she is on was not intercepted by Israeli forces and is still sailing towards Greece.

Additional reporting Sinéad Hussey