Israeli authorities have detained the sibling of the President of Ireland and have also halted one of the remaining boats from the Gaza flotilla, intercepting it while it was at a distance from Gaza. The vessel, named the Andros, was approached by Israeli forces in a dinghy according to the flotilla’s website tracker. Images displayed activists surrendering with their arms raised before the livestream abruptly ended with a notification of the boat’s interception.

Dr. Margaret Connolly, sister of Catherine Connolly, was on board one of the 10 boats out of a total of 60 in the flotilla that were intercepted in international waters and boarded by Israeli forces, as reported by The Global Sumud Flotilla. This action by the Israeli navy follows their previous interception of the activist flotilla near Cyprus in international waters.

The interception is viewed as the latest effort by a civil society-led maritime initiative to challenge the naval blockade imposed by Israel on Gaza and highlight the challenging living conditions faced by Palestinians in the region. Ireland’s President expressed pride in her sister’s participation in the aid convoy sailing to Gaza but also expressed concern for her safety.

In a video message, Dr. Connolly stated that she had been taken by Israeli forces from the flotilla and was being unlawfully detained in an Israeli prison. Emphasizing her commitment as a mother, doctor, and human being, she called for support to free her fellow detainees and urged the Irish government to pass the Occupied Territories Bill swiftly.

The flotilla, consisting of numerous vessels, set sail from Marmaris, Turkey, with organizers describing it as the final leg of their journey to Gaza. While 41 boats were intercepted on Monday, with another 10 continuing their voyage before the Andros interception, according to the Global Sumud Flotilla’s tracker.

A spokesperson for the flotilla denounced the attack, stating that the participants from Ireland and worldwide were acting within legal boundaries to provide aid to the people of Gaza who have been let down by various states and international bodies. Concern was raised for the safety of all 15 Irish participants and hundreds of others on the flotilla.