{"id":59409,"date":"2026-05-20T19:13:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T23:13:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/irish-foreign-minister-slams-treatment-of-detainees-by-israel\/20\/05\/2026\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T19:13:01","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T23:13:01","slug":"irish-foreign-minister-slams-treatment-of-detainees-by-israel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/irish-foreign-minister-slams-treatment-of-detainees-by-israel\/20\/05\/2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Irish foreign minister slams treatment of detainees by Israel"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Ireland&#8217;s Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee has called for the &#8220;immediate release&#8221; of Irish participants on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla that was intercepted by Israel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">It comes after far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/itamarbengvir\/status\/2057046925417824697\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:posted a video;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;posted a video&quot;}\" class=\"link \">posted a video<\/a> showing himself taunting activists, kneeling on the ground with their hands tied behind their backs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Irish citizen Catriona Graham can be heard at the start of the video shouting &#8220;free Palestine&#8221;, the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) has confirmed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Israel&#8217;s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave rare criticism to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/clyp32weyn8o?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Byahoo.north.america%5D-%5Blink%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Ben-Gvir over his handling;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Ben-Gvir over his handling&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Ben-Gvir over his handling<\/a> of the detained activists.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Netanyahu called Ben-Gvir&#8217;s actions &#8220;not in line with Israel&#8217;s values.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;I have instructed the relevant authorities to deport the provocateurs as soon as possible,&#8221; Netanyahu said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">McEntee said that &#8220;Ireland&#8217;s Ambassador to Israel has demanded immediate assurances that the welfare and wellbeing of all Irish citizens is safeguarded and that they are afforded all the protections.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;I have also demanded their immediate release,&#8221; she added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Sinn F\u00e9in MP D\u00e1ire Hughes called the behaviour on detainees &#8220;repulsive&#8221; and described the footage of Ben-Gvir&#8217;s as &#8220;sickening&#8221;.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>The Taoiseach (Irish PM) claimed the actions of the Israeli government are &#8220;in breach of international law&#8221; [PA Media]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The footage shows detainees kneeling on the ground with their hands tied behind their backs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">It also shows Ben-Gvir waving an Israeli flag and taunting the detainees.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In a statement on his X account, the Taoiseach (Irish prime minster) Miche\u00e1l Martin said he was &#8220;appalled at the shocking behaviour&#8221; of Ben-Gvir.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The Taoiseach claimed the actions of the Israeli government are &#8220;in breach of international law&#8221; and that he intends to raise the issue at &#8220;EU level&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">On a post on social media, the former Fine Gael minister Alan Shatter, who is a board member of the Israel Council on Foreign Relations, has called for Ben-Givir to &#8220;be unceremoniously dismissed from Israel&#8217;s cabinet and ministerial office&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">On Wednesday morning, Israeli rights group Adalah said the activists were being &#8220;taken into Israeli territory entirely against their will&#8221; and detained at Ashdod port.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;The legal team will challenge the legality of these detentions and demand the immediate release of all flotilla participants,&#8221; it added.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">International reaction<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said: &#8220;It is intolerable that these protesters, among whom there are many Italian citizens, are subjected to this treatment, which violates human dignity.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">France&#8217;s Foreign Minister Jean-No\u00ebl Barrot expressed his country&#8217;s &#8220;indignation&#8221; at Ben Gvir&#8217;s actions and demanded an explanation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">His Canadian counterpart, Anita Anand, called the video &#8220;deeply troubling&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Dr Margaret Connolly, sister of President Catherine Connolly, is among at least 12 Irish citizens that were <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/cp8pz5nm6r8o?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Byahoo.north.america%5D-%5Blink%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:part of a flotilla detained by Israel;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;part of a flotilla detained by Israel&quot;}\" class=\"link \">part of a flotilla detained by Israel<\/a> on Monday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A rights group representing the 430 participants from more than 40 countries who took part in GSF demanded their release.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The flotilla, which carried a token amount of aid, set out to highlight the tough conditions for Palestinians in war-torn Gaza. Israel dismissed it as a &#8220;PR stunt at the service of Hamas&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">More than 50 boats taking part in the flotilla set sail from Turkey last Thursday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/articles\/irish-foreign-minister-slams-treatment-175812038.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ireland&rsquo;s Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee has called for the &ldquo;immediate release&rdquo; of Irish participants on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla that was<br \/><button class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/irish-foreign-minister-slams-treatment-of-detainees-by-israel\/20\/05\/2026\/\">Read More &rsaquo;<\/a><\/button><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":59410,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/os\/en\/bbc_us_articles_995\/64f68d93b7ec1b82597074ef63dcf9ba","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59409"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59409"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59409\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/59410"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59409"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59409"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59409"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}