Irish president’s sister detained by Israel, aid flotilla organisers say | World News

The sister of Irish President Catherine Connolly is said to be among at least six Irish citizens on an aid flotilla to Gaza to have been detained by Israel off the coast of Cyprus.

At least 28 boats were intercepted in international waters by Israeli forces on Monday, according to Global Sumud Flotilla, reported the Reuters news agency.

The operation happened around 70 nautical miles off Cyprus, with at least six of 15 Irish participants among those detained, organisers said.

The Global Sumud Flotilla added it had lost contact with the intercepted boats.

The group said there were 426 people from 39 countries taking part in the flotilla, which involved more than 50 vessels.

Israel’s foreign ministry described the flotilla as a “provocation” and claimed there was no aid on board.

An hour before the interception, Israel had called on the vessels to “change course and turn back immediately”.

The boats had set sail on Thursday from southern Turkey, after earlier attempts to deliver aid to Gaza were intercepted by Israel in international waters.

Videos from Dr Margaret Connolly, the sister of the Irish president, and five others, which appear to have been recorded before they were detained, were released by the flotilla.

In her video, Dr Connolly said: “I am so proud to be taking part in 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.

“I feel utterly compelled – as a mother, a doctor, and as a human being – to help in this flotilla.”

Karen Moynihan, Irish lead for the Global Sumud Flotilla, said six Irish citizens had been “kidnapped” and another nine people were currently sailing and “imminently at risk”, and called on the Irish government to respond.

Ireland said officials were “actively monitoring the situation regarding the Global Sumud Flotilla” and engaging with the relevant authorities.

It said it would provide consular assistance to “impacted Irish citizens”.

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The Israeli military declined to comment on the ongoing operation.

But Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was originally scheduled to be in court on Monday to testify in his ongoing corruption trial, praised the soldiers for “thwarting a malicious plan designed to break the isolation we are imposing on Hamas terrorists in Gaza”.

The world’s leading association of genocide scholars, the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS), declared in August 2025 that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza. In September 2025, a UN commission of inquiry also concluded Israel had committed genocide.

Israel has repeatedly denied its actions in Gaza amount to genocide and claims they are justified as a means of self-defence.