http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0531/breaking21.html
Martin concerned over aid ship attack
Three Irish nationals who are aboard a ship that was intending to join the aid convoy attacked by Israeli commandos this morning have been reported as safe.
The status of a further five Irish nationals who were with the six-vessel convoy taking aid to the Gaza Strip is being investigated by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
At least 10 people were killed in clashes this morning between the Israeli navy and a convoy of ships trying to bring aid to the territory, Israel's Channel Two television news said.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said today he has summoned the Israeli ambassador to Ireland Dr Zion Evrony to a meeting this afternoon. He said the ambassador "is currently endeavouring to establish the full facts as they emerge”.
In a statement this morning, Mr Martin said he was "gravely concerned" over the storming of the Turkish ship.
"The reports of up to 15 people killed and 50 injured, if confirmed, would constitute a totally unacceptable response by the Israeli military to what was a humanitarian mission attempting to deliver much needed supplies to the people of Gaza," he said.
The Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs also announced plans to summon Dr Evrony to an emergency meeting later this week. The Palestinian Envoy to Ireland, Dr Hikmat Ajjuri, will also be invited.
The three Irish activists aboard the 1,200-ton cargo ship Rachel Corrie - Nobel peace prize winner Mairead Maguire and husband and wife Derek and Jenny Graham from Co Mayo - had set sail from Dundalk to join the convoy.
Siptu’s Ken Fleming said this morning they were safe. The Rachel Corrie was delayed because of mechanical problems and only left Malta last night. “They want to let their families know they are alright. They told me that they still want to proceed to Gaza with the urgently needed humanitarian aid on board,” he said.
Three Irish people - Dr Fintan Lane, Fiachra O Luain and Shane Dillon - were on board the Challenger 1 , which had travelled from Cyprus in the first wave of the flotilla, according to Niamh Moloughney of the Free Gaza Ireland campaign.
"The last email we got from the IHH ship was at 4am this morning in which they said the navy were boarding and helicopters were above them," she said. "I'm in shock. I hope Israel gets called up on its behaviour. It's outrageous what they've done. There weren’t even any weapons on board the ship."
Sydney Morning Herald journalist Paul McGeough, who was born in Co Monaghan and still travels on an Irish passport, and Australian photographer Kate Geraghty were out of communication for some hours after the clash. Ms Geraghty worked for a period with The Irish Times in 2007.
"We are pleased to report that Paul McGeough and Kate Geraghty, who are among the most experienced and well-trained Australian foreign correspondents, are safe, and being processed in an Israeli detention centre," Sydney Morning Herald editor in chief Peter Fray said.
The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) has called a protest in Dublin this evening, assembling at the Spire on O’Connell Street and proceeding to the Israeli embassy in Ballsbridge. Speakers at the event will be TDs Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Chris Andrews, both of whom were refused access to the flotilla by the Cypriot authorities on Saturday, the group added. Senator Mark Daly was also denied access.
IPSC chairman Dr David Landy today accused Israel of breaching international law. “The fact that Israel would allow its forces to kill and wound international human rights activists shows the world once again that Israeli is a rogue state that acts with impunity,” he claimed.
Mr Ó Snodaigh condemned the attack and called for Mr Martin to expel the Israeli ambassador.
“It looks as though this cold and calculated attack took place in international waters, in breach of all international maritime laws. There must be action from the international community," the Sinn Féin TD said.
“At all stage of preparations to join the flotilla the organisers reiterated non-violent and peaceful resistance to any boarding by Israeli army. The Israelis had nothing to fear from this flotilla."
Mr Andrews said he was "deeply shocked but sadly not surprised" by today’s events. "Israel has proven repeatedly that it believes itself to be above international law, evidenced by the fact that it carried out these attacks in International waters," he said. “I have just spent a week with several of the people who were on board these boats and I can say with absolute certainty these people were only concerned with peacefully bringing badly needed aid to the region."
Irish Congress of Trade Unions president Jack O’Connor and general secretary David Begg issued a joint statement condemning the assault.
“The people on those boats were civilians engaged in peaceful humanitarian work, bringing much needed aid to the Gaza Strip and were no threat to anyone,” they said. “To launch a military assault on a humanitarian convoy is beyond the bounds of all that is acceptable and should be judged as such by the international community. The assault was akin to the actions of a rogue state.”
Amnesty International also called for an inquiry. Noeleen Hartigan, programmes director for Amnesty International Ireland, said: “Israeli forces clearly appear to have used excessive force. Israel says its soldiers acted in self-defence, alleging that protesters attacked them, but it seems incredible that the level of lethal force used by Israeli troops could have possibly been justified.
Ms Hartigan called for a "credible and independent" investigation into the killings and said Amnesty had asked Minister Micheál Martin to make this clear to the Israeli ambassador when he meets him this afternoon.”
“The blockade does not target armed groups. It punishes Gaza’s entire population by restricting the entry of food, medical supplies, educational equipment and building materials,” she said.
Labour spokesman on human rights Joe Costello said Israel's actions were a "violent and unprovoked attack on a peaceful flotilla", and he accused the Mideast country of acting like a "rogue state".
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