Ireland's largest trade union pressed Israel at the weekend to free activists detained in a Friday naval raid on two Gaza solidarity ships in international waters.
Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union (Siptu) President Jack O'Connor called on Tel Aviv to "immediately release those arrested illegally and held," including Siptu official Mags O'Brien and 14 others who were on board the MV Saoirse.
It and the Canadian-registered Tahrir, which were both carrying medical supplies for Palestinians, were intercepted by Israeli marines in international waters about 90 miles off the coast of Gaza before being hauled to the Israeli port of Ashdod.
Other detained passengers include Sinn Fein councillors John Hearne and Pat Fitzgerald and Socialist Party and United Left Alliance MEP Paul Murphy.
Mr O'Connor branded the Netanyahu administration's actions "an illegal act of piracy without any mandate in international law.
"The Israeli authorities must immediately release the Irish citizens and others they are illegally detaining and ensure they are properly treated before they can safely return home."
He called on Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore to ensure the safety of those held and that they are treated with "dignity and respect.
"The Israeli authorities must immediately release the Irish citizens and others they are illegally detaining and ensure they are properly treated before they can safely return home.
"The minister for foreign affairs and his officials must ensure that the safety of those held is ensured."
The Israeli Defence Force has said that its marines had taken "every precaution necessary" to ensure that no-one was injured during the operation.
It said that it only boarded the solidarity vessels after the activists on board had refused to turn around or unload their supplies in Israel or Egypt.
In Gaza Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh hailed the intrepid campaigners.
"We appreciate highly those activists who came in solidarity. We stress that their goal has been achieved because they have exposed the illegal occupation."
Morning Star
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