Deported Activist Hurt As Ship Nears Gaza

As tension mounts over the imminent arrival of an Irish Aid vessel into the Israeli guarded waters, it has emerged that a deported Irish citizen was injured in scuffles with security personnel late last night.

Fiachra O'Luain was treated in hospital in Istanbul for injuries he is believed to have sustained at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv during his deportation. His injuries are not believed to be serious.

The incident has served to rack up the pressure on the Israeli Government just as the Irish aid ship, the Rachael Corrie, is set to enter the same waters where Israeli forces shot and killed nine crew members on the Turkish led aid Flotilla earlier this week.

The Irish government has asked that Israel not interfere with the passage of the Rachael Corrie.

Speaking yesterday, Minister for Foreign Affairs Michael Martin said: "I again repeat my urgent call to the Israeli government to allow safe passage of the Irish owned vessel, the MV Rachel Corrie, which is still sailing towards Gaza to deliver its consignment of humanitarian aid.

"It is imperative that there should be no further confrontation or bloodshed arising from what has been all along a purely humanitarian mission by those involved in the Gaza flotilla. The Government will be maintaining close contact with the Israeli government on this issue in the coming days."

Further dampening relations between Ireland and Israel, it emerged this morning that the Israeli Ambassador to Ireland, Dr. Zion Evrony has this morning pulled out of an agreement to attend the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee tomorrow, citing "unforeseen circumstances".

Fine Gael's Foreign Affairs Spokesman, Billy Timmins, said: "This is in no way satisfactory. The Ambassadors attendance at the Committee would have afforded an opportunity for him to shed some light on the events surrounding the deaths of members of the aid flotilla bound for Gaza.

"It would have also given members of the Committee an opportunity to seek guarantees regarding the safety of those aboard the ‘Rachel Corrie’. I once again call on the Israeli authorities to remove the illegal blockade being imposed on the people of Gaza.”

Last night an Israeli government official told American reporters for the CNN network that the Israeli government was offering to "receive the ship's [Rachael Corries] cargo, as it has offered other vessels if it docks at (Israel's) Ashdod port. The Israeli government will unload the cargo, screen it, and deliver it to Gaza."

The same deal was rejected by the flotilla of six ships before Israeli commandos attacked one of them Monday.

Israel claim their blockade is to prevent the transportation of weapons to the Gaza region coming from Iran.

However, aid workers are saying the blockade is causing a humanitarian crisis in the region.

(DW/BMcC)