Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has welcomed news that Chris Andrews has been released from captivity in Israel.
The Senator was among the Irish citizens who were detained by Israeli forces last week after ships that were attempting to carry aid into Israel as part of a global Flotilla were stopped by the Israeli government.
In a statement on Twitter on Monday evening, McDonald said that Senator Andrews “has arrived safely in Greece after being illegally incarcerated by Israeli authorities. He is in good spirits despite a gruelling few days.”
“He asked that I pass on his heartfelt thanks to all those who supported the humanitarian mission of the flotilla and spoke-up for their release. These activists have shown by their courage that people throughout the world will never stop confronting this genocide, never stop standing up for justice and freedom for Palestine.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD, has welcomed news that the Irish citizens, including Sinn Féin Senator Chris Andrews, who were illegally abducted by Israel in international waters last Thursday night have been released and will return home in the coming days.
Ó Laoghaire said “it is very welcome news that the Irish citizens, including my colleague Sinn Féin Senator Chris Andrews, who were illegally abducted by Israel in international waters last Thursday have been released. I thank the department staff who worked hard to get them home.”
“Their detention was a violation of international law, and we are further very concerned at reports of the treatment of those on the Global Flotilla whilst detained, not only the Irish citizens.
“I am conscious that there are more Irish citizens on the next flotilla, and I am calling on the government to take action now to provide greater protection for those citizens.”
“The release of the Irish citizens is welcome, and we look forward to seeing them all home and reunited with their loved ones,” he said.