Donegal Hears Plans for New Aid Flotilla to Gaza

A Public Meeting held on Saturday last (July 24) in Donegal Town's Central Hotel heard in-depth eye witness accounts of the Israeli attack on the Gaza Aid Flotilla on May 31. 

Fiachra O'Luain from Inishowen in County Donegal and Cork native Fintan Lane, who were on board the Challenger 1, recounted in detail their experiences when Israeli commando's stormed their boat.  They spoke at length of witnessing the attack on the Mavi Marmara which resulted in the murder of nine of their colleagues on the Flotilla and outlined how they themselves and their colleagues were assaulted and brutalised by their Israeli captors on the boat and in Israel while in captivity.

Fiachra O'Luain Addresses Public Meeting-Donegal Town July 24 2010 from éirígí Sligeach on Vimeo.

Fintan, who was speaking on behalf of the Free Gaza Movement (FGM) which organised the Flotilla, also outlined the organisations plans for another Aid Flotilla during the Autumn.  He said that pressure must not just be maintained, but intensified, in order to support the people of Gaza and to bring the inhumane and illegal siege of the area to an end.

Following the accounts given by Fiachra and Fintan, a lively question and answer session took place, particularly relating to how people in Donegal and other parts of Ireland could help the Palestinian people in their ongoing struggle for justice and freedom.  Amongst the topics discussed was the ongoing campaign of Boycott,  Divestment & Sanctions (BDS) against Israel as well as the next Gaza Aid Flotilla and how individuals could assist in terms of finance and raising the issue in the media. 

The North West Forum's Jim McLaughlin, who chaired the meeting, said that another public meeting was planned for Donegal town at the start of September.  For more information check out www.ipsc.ie or phone 087 9730539

Gaza Aid Flotilla Survivors to address Donegal PublicMeeting

Two Irishmen, Dr Fintan Lane and Fiachra O'Luain were among the many pro-Palestinian activists kidnapped by the Israeli military during their murderous assault on the Gaza aid Flotilla on May 31. 

Nine people were murdered and many more injured by Israeli forces when they stormed the Mavi Marmara ship and other boats on the freedom Flotilla in International waters, hijacked the boats and kidnapped the crew and activists who survived the attack. Many of those who were kidnapped were brutalised by their Israeli captors.

Both men, who were on board the Challenger 1, will be in Donegal Town this Saturday (July 24) to address a public meeting and relate their experience during the raid, their kidnapping and their subsequent ill-treatment at the hands of their Israeli captors.

The meeting will also have a discussion on the continuing illegal siege of Gaza, while Dr Lane, a member of the Free Gaza Movement and the IPSC (Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign) will outline plans for the next flotilla that is to attempt to deliver much needed supplies to the besieged population of Gaza.

                                                                                       Fintan Lane             Fiachra O'Luain

Speaking immediately after their eventual release from Israeli custody at the beginning of June Fintan revealed some of the abuse and ill treatment they and other activists endured. He revealed how Fiachra was beaten up at the airport and had to be brought to hospital for tests.


He continued: “Ken O’Keefe, the Irish-American passenger, suffered a severe beating at the hands of security officials at Tel Aviv airport before boarding, and his injuries were so bad that he had to be hospitalised in Tel Aviv – the Israelis are claiming this delay in his repatriation is for ‘technical reasons’, yet another Israeli lie.”

In relation to the actual hi-jacking of their boat Fintan said: “When they boarded our boat, we resisted entirely peacefully. I sat on the floor and tried to reason with them, but the Israeli commandos physically attacked us. Fiachra was dragged around the ground and I had a gun pointed in my face by a screaming commando. His mania was so intense that I genuinely feared for my life. Others received beatings.”


He added: “When they finally took over our ship, and forced us to dock in Ashdod, we refused to disembark. We sat down, linked arms and said that we had been illegally kidnapped and brought against our will to Israel. We were all forcibly removed from the boat and brought to interrogation rooms in the port. At this point, I refused to hand over my passport, restating my position that I would not cooperate with my illegal detention and was under no obligation to do so. I was then physically assaulted, my arms were painfully twisted behind my back for prolonged periods and my passport taken.”

In the wake of the murderous Israeli attack and subsequent kidnapping of Irish citizens, the Taoiseach Brian Cowen warned that Israel would face “serious consequences” if any Irish citizens were injured. True to form, despite the overwhelming evidence of ill treatment and brutality meted out to those illegally detained, including both Fintan and Fiachra, the 26 county government have shamefully refused to take any action whatsoever against the zionist regime.

The meeting which has been organised by the North West Solidarity Network takes place on Saturday July 24 in the Central Hotel at 3pm.  All welcome.  For more information phone 087 9730539