TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The sister of the President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly, is among the activists of the Global Sumud Flotilla heading to Gaza and detained by Israeli forces in international waters on Monday, May 18, 2026.
Margaret Connolly is among at least six Irish nationals aboard the aid flotilla detained by Israel, reported the Irish Independent, citing activists as quoted by Anadolu.
According to the Global Sumud Flotilla, 10 ships from the convoy of 60 ships were intercepted in international waters and boarded by Israeli forces on Monday morning.
The organizers stated that the interception took place approximately 70 nautical miles off the coast of Cyprus, with at least six of the 15 Irish participants detained.
The flotilla released videos of Connolly and five other activists apparently recorded before the interception.
“If you are watching this video, it means I have been kidnapped from my boat in the flotilla by the Israeli occupying forces, and I’m now being held illegally in an Israeli prison,” Connolly said in the video.
“I am so proud to be taking part in this flotilla - it is the largest to date,” she added.
On Monday, Israeli forces attacked and intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla humanitarian fleet heading to Gaza in international waters. They detained about 100 activists as the mission sought to break the Israeli blockade in the Palestinian territory.
The fleet, comprising more than 50 ships, set sail on Thursday from the Marmaris district in the Mediterranean Turkey in a new attempt to breach the Israeli blockade imposed on Gaza since 2007.
The organizers said the mission included 426 participants, among them 96 Turkish activists and participants from 39 other countries, including Germany, the US, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Algeria, Indonesia, Morocco, France, South Africa, UK, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Canada, Egypt, Pakistan, Tunisia, Oman, and New Zealand.
Two journalists from Republika and a journalist from Tempo TV were among the activists kidnapped by the Israeli army.
On April 29, Israeli forces also attacked the Global Sumud Flotilla fleet off the coast of the island of Crete, Greece.
Read: Indonesian Global Sumud Flotilla Volunteers Recount Chase by Israeli Warships Near Gaza
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