Dr Margaret Connolly, the sister of Irish President Catherine Connolly, was aboard one of 10 boats in a 60-vessel flotilla which were intercepted in international waters and boarded by Israeli forces
The sister of the President of Ireland is among at least six Irish citizens aboard an aid flotilla that have been detained by Israel, organisers say.
Dr Margaret Connolly, the sister of Irish President Catherine Connolly, was aboard one of 10 boats in a 60-vessel flotilla which were intercepted in international waters and boarded by Israeli forces today, The Global Sumud Flotilla said.
Organisers said the interception happened shortly after 9am approximately 70 nautical miles off Cyrpus, with at least six of 15 Irish participants among those detained.
The Global Sumud Flotilla said it has lost contact with the intercepted boats.
The flotilla has posted videos from Dr Connolly and five others, which appear to have been recorded in advance of their detention.
In her video, Dr Connolly said: “If you are watching this video, it means I have been kidnapped from my boat in the flotilla by the Israeli occupying forces, and I’m now being held illegally in an Israeli prison.
“I am so proud to be taking part in this flotilla -it is the largest to date. Thousands of people all over the world – citizens like you and me – have volunteered their services to help with this flotilla.
“This is the largest one to date, and now we sail for Gaza to open a humanitarian pathway to bring much needed aid and medical supply to the people of Gaza.”
She added: “I feel utterly compelled – as a mother, a doctor, and as a human being – to help in this flotilla. I ask you all to support the call to immediately free my comrades in prison.
“I wish to appeal to the Irish government to enact the Occupied Territories Bill without fail.
“The cause of Palestine is the moral compass of our time, it is what makes us human. Their humanity is our humanity.”
Karen Moynihan, Irish lead for the Global Sumud Flotilla, told reporters that six Irish citizens had been “kidnapped”.
She added: “There are still another nine people sailing currently and are imminently at risk.
“Our absolute shameful government has not said a single word.
“So 15 Irish people – along with hundreds of other people – completely legally sailing on a humanitarian mission, have been intercepted and abused again by Israel.
“Currently, over the past seven months, 33 Irish citizens have been kidnapped by Israel, and our Government is considering whether they’re even going to sanction Israel – it is absolutely horrific, and the Government needs to be called out fully on its complicity in genocide, and there is no other way to put it.”
In a statement, a spokesperson for the flotilla said: “This attack on the flotilla has no legal basis and all of the participants from Ireland and around the world on this flotilla are acting within the law to deliver aid to the Palestinian people in Gaza who have been failed by all states and international institutions.
“We are now extremely concerned for the safety and welfare of all 15 Irish participants and the hundreds of other participants who are on the flotilla.”
In the same statement, Maureen Alma, a nurse in her late 60s, said: “I am sailing as part of the healthcare team on the Doctors to Gaza boat with the Global Sumud Flotilla to break the siege and show solidarity with our Palestinian colleagues.
“Israel has destroyed the healthcare system in Gaza, slaughtered more than 2,000 healthcare workers and imprisoned or disappeared close to 400 doctors.
“The Irish Government along with Western governments remain complicit in this genocide and have dramatically failed in their moral responsibility to uphold International Law.”
Seven other Irish citizens were intercepted and detained by Israel in similar circumstances last month.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said officials “are actively monitoring the situation regarding the Global Sumud Flotilla” and are engaging with the relevant authorities.
It added: “The Department will provide consular assistance to impacted Irish citizens.”
The Israel Foreign Ministry, on X, described the flotilla as a “provocation” and a search for “publicity”, as it claimed there was no aid on board.
“The purpose of this provocation is to serve Hamas, to divert attention from Hamas’s refusal to disarm, and to obstruct progress on President Trump’s peace plan,” it said.
It added: “The Gaza Strip is flooded with aid. Since October 2025 alone, more than 1.58 million tons of humanitarian aid and thousands of tons of medical supplies have entered Gaza.
“Israel will not allow any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza.
“Israel calls on all participants in this provocation to change course and turn back immediately.”
Amnesty International Ireland said the flotilla was an indictment of Ireland and the international community’s “abject failure to end Israel’s ongoing atrocity crimes against Palestinians, including genocide, apartheid, and unlawful occupation”.
In a statement, its executive director Stephen Bowen said Europe should end its Association Agreement with Israel and, in the absence of such a measure, called on the Irish Government to act unilaterally.
He said: “When we don’t even use the tools we do have at our disposal, words become the empty rhetoric of appeasement.”
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald described Monday’s actions as “yet another brazen violation of international law” as she called on the Government to secure the immediate release of the activists.
“The impunity afforded to Israel by the international community must end. Ireland must take the lead in confronting it.”
People Before Profit leader Richard Boyd Barrett also called on the Government to demand the release of the Irish citizens and urged people to take part in a protest outside the Dail on Wednesday, as TDs debate sanctions on Israel.
