Ireland condemns Israel’s detention of President’s sister on Gaza aid flotilla

TruthMay 22, 202607:38|Around the World0

Thai PBS Verify has examined a Facebook post claiming that Ireland denounced Israel over the detention of the Irish President's sister on a Gaza humanitarian flotilla. According to verified reports from international news organizations, the arrest and the use of violence did take place. Below is the full sequence of events detailing what actually happened.

Thai PBS Verify found the post in question on: Facebook

A screenshot of the social media post, claiming that Ireland condemns Israel for detaining the President’s sister on a humanitarian vessel to Gaza.

Thai PBS Verify discovered an image post by the Facebook page ‘Thailand Stand with Palestine ไทยเคียงข้างปาเลสไตน์,’ which is headlined: “Ireland denounces Israel following the interception and detention of the President’s sister on a Gaza aid flotilla.”

The Thai caption could be translated as follows:

“What Israel is doing is illegal, in my opinion.

“It is ‘unacceptable’ that Irish citizens aboard the Gaza aid flotilla have been detained by Israel, the Irish Prime Minister said.

“President Connolly, speaking during her three-day visit to Britain, described the incident as ‘deeply distressing.’ She added that while she is ‘immensely proud’ of her sister, she remains ‘deeply concerned’ for her well-being.

“Among the 12 citizens was Dr. Margaret Connolly, sister of President Catherine Connolly of Ireland.
“According to the flotilla organizers, 10 of the 60 aid vessels were intercepted in international waters before being boarded by Israeli forces early Monday morning.

“The Global Sumud Flotilla and its onboard activists were bringing food, baby formula, and medical relief to Palestinians in Gaza. Currently, most of Gaza’s 2.1 million residents are displaced and enduring miserable living conditions, exacerbated by Israel’s ongoing blockade across land, air, and sea.”

The post received more than 1,500 reactions and over 170 shares.

The Irish President’s sister was indeed detained by Israel

Thai PBS Verify conducted a keyword search for the Irish President Catherine Connolly’s sister, ‘Dr. Margaret Connolly,’ and found a relevant report from RTÉ, Ireland’s public broadcaster. Dr. Connolly and seven other Irish citizens were indeed detained by Israeli forces off the coast of Cyprus.

A RTÉ report on Dr. Connolly, who was detained by Israeli forces.

Additionally, AP’s news reports stated that Israeli naval forces boarded the aid vessel in broad daylight in international waters, more than 250 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza.

A video from the Associated Press (AP) reports on the Israeli Navy (indicated by the red box) raiding a Gaza aid flotilla.

A news clip from the AP

Meanwhile, The Independent reported a fierce political backlash from top Irish leaders, with the Deputy Prime Minister stating that Israel’s actions on this occasion amounted to a “violation of international law.”

The Independent highlighted the strong political reactions emanating from Ireland’s high-ranking officials.

Did Israel actually use force during the detention?

Upon verification, the team identified an investigative piece by The Guardian concerning Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir. The article highlights a video, distributed by the minister, that depicts the mistreatment and degradation of international activists—an act that has triggered a diplomatic conflict.

A screenshot of The Guardian’s investigative piece on Mr. Ben-Gvir’s treatment of flotilla activists.

Mr. Ben-Gvir posted a video on his personal social media accounts showing the detained flotilla activists and volunteers—including Dr. Margaret Connolly, sister of the Irish President. The detainees were pictured with their hands zip-tied behind their backs and their foreheads pressed against the floor, while the Israeli national anthem played in the background. In the footage, Mr. Ben-Gvir can be seen waving the Israeli flag and openly mocking the captives.

A video posted on Itamar Ben-Gvir’s personal social media account shows him waving the Israeli flag while mocking detainees.

A video from Mr. Ben-Gvir’s post

The incident sparked strong backlash from Western governments. The Spanish Foreign Minister condemned the act as “despicable, shameful, and inhumane,” while the Italian government stated it was “unacceptable” and “in violation of human dignity.” The fallout was so severe that Israel’s own Foreign Minister and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rushed to evacuate the detainees out of the country, admonishing Mr. Ben-Gvir for harming Israel’s international standing.

Mr. Netanyahu ordered the swift evacuation of the detainees out of the country, criticizing Mr. Ben-Gvir’s behavior for damaging the nation’s image.

What is the Global Sumud Flotilla?

The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), or Usṭūl aṣ–Ṣumūd al-ʿĀlamī in Arabic (meaning the “Global Flotilla of Steadfastness”), represents an international civilian initiative. The fleet aims to deliver essential humanitarian relief to Gaza and perform symbolic missions to counter the ongoing Israeli maritime blockade.

The official website of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF).

The origin of the GSF

Established in July 2025, the movement brings together multiple activist groups and civil society organizations—such as the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), the Global Movement to Gaza, and Sumud Nusantara—to counter the ongoing warfare and famine in Gaza.
Making history as the largest civilian flotilla ever assembled, the ongoing mission—running from 2025 through May 2026—involves upwards of 40 to 50 vessels. They are progressively departing from various ports around the Mediterranean, including Italy, Spain, Tunisia, and Turkey.
The mission gathers over 500 volunteers from more than 56 countries worldwide. The delegation extends beyond political activists to include doctors, nurses, lawyers, members of parliament, human rights defenders, and high-profile figures—such as environmental activist Greta Thunberg, who previously joined to support the flotilla in Barcelona.

The list of over 500 volunteers from more than 56 countries worldwide.

The flotilla’s primary objectives

Distributing humanitarian relief: Transporting vital food, medicine, medical supplies, and baby formula directly to Palestinians in need.
Establishing the ‘People’s Sea Corridor’: Attempting to open a maritime route managed by the public in order to bypass and end Israel’s near 18-year monopoly over inspections and its naval blockade.
Applying political pressure: Directing the global spotlight onto the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and urging world governments to cease their inaction regarding this situation.

Verification Process

1) Initial search and source verification: Thai PBS Verify initiated a verification process over the post by ‘Thailand Stand with Palestine’ Facebook page. Using English keywords such as ‘Dr. Margaret Connolly’ and ‘Gaza flotilla detained,’ the team found primary sources from both Irish and international news outlets.

2) Confirmation of the high-profile individuals arrest: To verify the accuracy of the aforementioned post, Thai PBS Verify conducted cross-checking across credible mainstream media sources, which yielded the following supporting evidence:

RTÉ: Dr. Margaret Connolly—an Irish medical doctor and the sister of Ireland’s President, Catherine Connolly—was among eight Irish nationals who were confirmed to have been detained by the Israeli forces.
AP: The precise location was identified where the Israeli Navy intercepted and raided a relief ship part of the Global Sumud Flotilla. The incident occurred in international waters, more than 250 nautical miles from the coastline of Gaza.
The Independent (UK): The statements of the Irish leaders were confirmed, including the Irish Deputy premier’s denouncement of Israel’s conduct as constituting a “breach of international law.”

3) Fact-checking on the allegations of violence: Regarding the question of whether Israel indeed committed acts of violence and human rights abuses against the detainees, Thai PBS Verify conducted an in-depth investigation and uncovered investigative reports from The Guardian and The Times of Israel, which confirm the following facts:

Key video evidence: A video shared by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on his personal social media confirms that a group of international activists, including Dr. Margaret Connolly, were filmed with their hands bound behind them with cable ties and their foreheads to the ground. The footage features the Israeli national anthem being played to intimidate them, alongside verbal mockery and taunts.
Diplomatic fallout: The international backlash from Western governments described in the post is true. The Spanish Foreign Minister condemned the act as “despicable, shameful, and inhumane,” while the Italian government suggested that it was “unacceptable” and breached human dignity. The severe fallout ultimately led Prime Minister Netanyahu and Israel’s Foreign Minister to rush the evacuation of the detainees out of the country, admonishing Mr. Ben-Gvir for harming Israel’s international standing.

What is the truth?

Despite being published by a political advocacy Facebook page Facebook, the post in question is “factual” rather than misinformation. The identities, international media coverage, and official statements from country leaders align with the facts.