President Connolly's sister among Irish activists on Gaza aid flotilla 'intercepted' by Israel

Seven Irish people are on board a flotilla which has been 'intercepted' by Israeli forces. The aid ships were bound for Gaza and in international waters near Greece.

Flotilla organisers have decried the move as an "escalation of Israel's impunity."

'I will not be bullied' - Margaret Connolly describes tense siutation as flotilla intercepted by Israeli forces https://t.co/flu9WGmhBh via @OceanFmIreland

— Niall Delaney (@OceanNWT) April 30, 2026

Israel's Foreign Ministry said some 175 activists were arrested after 20 ships were intercepted.

It is understood that the sister of President Catherine Connolly, Margaret Connolly, as well as a number of Irish citizens, is on board one of the vessels in the flotilla.

The vessels are part of a second flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, which sailed from the Spanish port of Barcelona on April 12 in an attempt to break the Israeli blockade.

In a message posted in the early hours of Thursday morning, Dr Margaret Connolly said that while surrounding boats are being intercepted, the vessel she is on is "still escaping interception and is en route to Crete."

The vessels were seized by Israel hundreds of miles from Gaza, according to the organisers, Global Sumud Flotilla.

"This is piracy," the group said ⁠in a statement.

"This is the unlawful seizure of human beings ​on the open sea near Crete, an assertion that Israel can operate ​with total impunity, far beyond its own borders, with no consequences."

No state had the right to claim, police, or occupy international waters, but Israel had done that, extending its control outward to the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Europe, it added.

Israel's UN envoy Danny Danon said the flotilla "was stopped before reaching our area".

In a posting on X, he added, "Our brave IDF soldiers are acting with professionalism and determination, dealing with a group of delusional attention-seeking agitators," referring to the Israeli military.

Israel, which controls all access to the Gaza Strip, denies withholding supplies for its residents, numbering more than two million.

However, Palestinians and international aid bodies say supplies reaching the territory are still insufficient, despite a ceasefire reached in October that included guarantees of increased aid.