Irish senator ‘illegally detained’ on board Gaza flotilla, Sinn Fein says
Sinn Fein Senator Chris Andrews has been “illegally detained” by Israeli forces while on board the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters, Irish political party Sinn Fein has said.
It called on the Irish government to “act now” and “demand the immediate and safe release of Senator Chris Andrews and all Irish citizens”.
“The flotilla is a peaceful humanitarian mission carrying food and aid to Gaza. This violent interception is a blatant violation of international law,” it added.
There are a total of 22 Irish citizens on board boats carrying aid towards Gaza, coordinators of the Global Sumud Flotilla have said.
Irish President Michael D Higgins has reportedly said international law has been breached by Israel in relation to the interception of the vessels.
“In recent weeks, there was a near consensus among members of the United Nations that a Palestinian State should be recognised as an essential building block for peace in the region,” he said, according to Irish broadcaster RTE.
“We might well ask where stands this commitment now if a flotilla involving more than 40 boats and more than 500 people from the international community seeking to bring humanitarian aid – water, medicines and food to those who are in desperate need – is being prevented from achieving that humanitarian objective,” he added.
Protesters shut down Berlin train station
Our Al Jazeera Arabic colleagues are reporting that demonstrators closed the central train station in the German capital, Berlin, in protest against the attack on the flotilla vessels.
Protests have erupted in several major cities around the world, including Athens, Rome, Istanbul, and Tunis.
