Deported Gaza flotilla activists return to Ireland

Eleven Irish citizens who were on board the flotilla bringing aid to Gaza have arrived at Dublin airport after being deported from Israel. The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) was intercepted on Monday and the activists were detained by Israeli soldiers. The Irish activists were sent to Turkey on Friday, before being flown to Ireland. In total, 14 Irish people were among hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists who were detained in Israel. On Saturday, a crowd of more than 400 supporters met them after their flight from Istanbul landed in Dublin. Among them was Thomas Deasy from Belfast. He told RTÉ News that activists had known there was a good chance they would be detained but added the force used aganist them was "more than we ever, ever imagined". There was an international backlash in response to a video posted by Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, showing him taunting activists kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs. In a statement on his X account, the Taoiseach (Irish prime minster) Micheál Martin said he was "appalled at the shocking behaviour" of Ben-Gvir. Speaking after a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Thursday, Martin said