Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat a Chathaoirligh. The Minister of State is very welcome to the House. I am sure he is well aware that the freedom flotilla is an international fleet of civilian ships attempting to break the illegal siege and blockade of Gaza by Israel. The flotilla is organised by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and had brought together participants from more than 20 countries, including Ireland.The flotilla is the first humanitarian mission to carry aid sufficient to meaningfully alleviate the food and medical supply shortage and the intensification of the genocide of the Palestinian people by Israel, which has been imposed on Gaza since last October. The flotilla first set sail in April, with more than 5,000 tonnes of aid and around 1,000 medics, lawyers, politicians and human rights observers on board. Unfortunately, the progress of the flotilla has been halted as its flags have been confiscated by the Guinea-Bissau international ships registry under pressure from the Israeli authorities. Lawyers acting for the coalition have advised that this confiscation is without basis, without requisite notice and is in violation of maritime and international humanitarian law, including the San Remo principles, UN Convention of the Law of the Sea, UNCLOS, UN Security Council resolution 27 and 28 and the International Court of Justice orders on interim measures, which the flotilla is meaningfully attempting to execute through its mission. Without its flags, the flotilla is unable to continue its mission to deliver critical humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza to relieve some of the suffering being imposed by and through the illegal Israeli blockade and occupation. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and United Nations Office at Geneva have both called for the immediate release and safe passage of the flotilla, yet the Israeli Government - supported by its allies - flouts its international obligations, preventing the flotilla from reaching Gaza and delivering critical humanitarian aid and support. A request has been made by the coalition - supported by a petition, which includes more than 18,000 signatories - for Ireland to grant permission for one of the humanitarian vessels to use its flag.