Irish president ‘proud’ of sister detained on Gaza flotilla

“Palestinians will save our humanity,” says sister of Irish president who was arrested by Israeli naval commandos aboard a boat bound for Gaza.

By World Israel News Staff

The sister of Ireland’s president was among activists detained by Israeli forces aboard a flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip, prompting the Irish leader to express pride over her sister’s arrest.

Speaking to media after meeting King Charles at Buckingham Palace in London on Monday, Irish President Catherine Connolly said she was “very proud of my sister, but I’m also very worried about her.”

Connolly added that she had “been very busy today … I haven’t really had a chance to get details in relation to my sister and indeed, equally importantly, her colleagues on the boat.”

At least six Irish citizens, including Connolly’s sister Dr. Margaret Connolly, were detained by Israeli naval forces aboard vessels heading toward the Gaza Strip on Monday.

The flotilla was intercepted by Israeli authorities while en route to the coastal enclave.

A video later released by flotilla activists showed a pre-recorded message from Margaret Connolly, in which she appears holding her Irish passport and wearing a shirt displaying a map of Ireland.

“If you are watching this video, it means I have been kidnapped from my boat in the flotilla by the Israeli occupying forces and am now being held illegally in an Israeli prison,” she says in the clip.

“The cause of Palestine is the moral compass of our time. It is what makes us human,” she continues. “Palestinians will save our humanity.”

President Connolly has previously drawn controversy for her outspoken criticism of Israel and for comments widely interpreted as sympathetic to Palestinian political movements.

She has repeatedly described Israel as a “terrorist state” and a “rogue state” in past public remarks.

In a separate interview with Irish broadcaster RTÉ, Connolly described Hamas as being “elected by the people” and enjoying “overwhelming support” from Gazans.

“They are part of the civil society of Palestine,” she added.