Irish foreign minister slams treatment of detainees by Israel

Ireland's Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee has called for the "immediate release" of Irish participants on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla that was intercepted by Israel.

It comes after far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video showing himself taunting activists, kneeling on the ground with their hands tied behind their backs.

Irish citizen Catriona Graham can be heard at the start of the video shouting "free Palestine", the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) has confirmed.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave rare criticism to Ben-Gvir over his handling of the detained activists.

Netanyahu called Ben-Gvir's actions "not in line with Israel's values.

"I have instructed the relevant authorities to deport the provocateurs as soon as possible," Netanyahu said in a statement.

McEntee said that "Ireland'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.

"I have also demanded their immediate release," she added.

Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes called the behaviour on detainees "repulsive" and described the footage of Ben-Gvir's as "sickening".

The footage shows detainees kneeling on the ground with their hands tied behind their backs.

It also shows Ben-Gvir waving an Israeli flag and taunting the detainees.

In a statement on his X account, the Taoiseach (Irish prime minster) Micheál Martin said he was "appalled at the shocking behaviour" of Ben-Gvir.

The Taoiseach claimed the actions of the Israeli government are "in breach of international law" and that he intends to raise the issue at "EU level".

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 "be unceremoniously dismissed from Israel's cabinet and ministerial office".

On Wednesday morning, Israeli rights group Adalah said the activists were being "taken into Israeli territory entirely against their will" and detained at Ashdod port.

"The legal team will challenge the legality of these detentions and demand the immediate release of all flotilla participants," it added.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said: "It is intolerable that these protesters, among whom there are many Italian citizens, are subjected to this treatment, which violates human dignity."

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot expressed his country's "indignation" at Ben Gvir's actions and demanded an explanation.

His Canadian counterpart, Anita Anand, called the video "deeply troubling".

Dr Margaret Connolly, sister of President Catherine Connolly, is among at least 12 Irish citizens that were part of a flotilla detained by Israel on Monday.

A rights group representing the 430 participants from more than 40 countries who took part in GSF demanded their release.

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 "PR stunt at the service of Hamas".

More than 50 boats taking part in the flotilla set sail from Turkey last Thursday.