Irish president proud: my sister was arrested in the Gaza flotilla
The president of Ireland revealed that her sister, Margaret Connolly, was among six Irish citizens arrested during the Israeli military takeover of the Turkish flotilla to Gaza, "I am very proud of her”, she said. The flotilla, which included dozens of vessels and about 500 activists, was organized by the same terrorist organization that led the 2010 Marmara
By Asaf Rozentzweig
Ireland's President Catherine Connolly announced that her sister, Margaret Connolly, was arrested during the takeover by IDF forces of the Turkish flotilla to Gaza.
"I am very proud of my sister, Margaret Connolly, who was arrested by Israeli forces on the Gaza flotilla", the president said. According to her, her sister was one of six Irish citizens detained aboard the flotilla vessels.
Yesterday, IDF forces began taking control of the "Marmara 2" – the Turkish flotilla making its way toward the Gaza Strip. In live broadcasts aired by flotilla activists, Israeli Navy vessels were seen approaching the ships, followed by IDF soldiers boarding them. Shortly after the operation began, communication with some of the vessels was lost and the broadcasts were cut off.
The flotilla included dozens of vessels and around 500 activists from 45 different countries. Israeli defense officials had prepared in advance for the possibility of violent resistance by some participants, and the IDF made clear it would not allow the ships to reach Gaza’s shores. The flotilla was led by the IHH organization – a terror group that was also behind the 2010 Mavi Marmara flotilla.
Catherine Connolly, who was recently elected President of Ireland with about 63% of the vote, is identified with the country's far left and is considered a harsh critic of Israel. In the past, she called Israel a "terror state", accused Western countries of "enabling genocide in Gaza", and urged Ireland to maintain neutrality in the face of what she described as "Western militarism". Her election marked a further escalation in tensions between Jerusalem and Dublin.