McNamara Leads Cross-Party MEP Letter to EU Foreign Policy Chief Demanding Action After Israeli Military Seizes Civilian Vessels Near Crete

Clare-based MEP Michael McNamara has today led a letter signed by Members of the European Parliament to HR/VP Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, demanding immediate intervention following the seizure by Israeli military forces of civilian vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters near Crete.

Among those unaccounted for is Irish citizen and Ennis man Martin Guilfoyle, who  is among 7 Irish citizens who were aboard one of the intercepted vessels. His whereabouts and welfare remain unknown. McNamara has also written separately to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Irish Permanent Representative to the EU and the Irish Ambassador in Tel Aviv demanding urgent consular intervention on their behalf.

The letter, backed by MEPs from various different political groups, describes the interception as a serious act of aggression by a foreign military power in European waters, hundreds of miles from Gaza, with no legal or security justification. The co-signatories are calling on Kallas to intervene at the highest diplomatic level, summon the Israeli Head of Mission to the EU, place sanctions on the table, and report urgently to the European Parliament.

McNamara said of the incident: “This is a serious act of aggression by a foreign military in European waters. EU citizens – including  Irish citizens – are unaccounted for. I am not prepared to wait while bureaucratic processes run their course. I am demanding immediate action from Kallas and the EU to act.

The Global Sumud Flotilla departed from Italy on Sunday carrying over 400 civilians from multiple countries on a humanitarian mission to Gaza. Twenty-two of its vessels were intercepted by Israeli military forces on 29 April. The interception took place approximately 600 nautical miles from Gaza which is far beyond any previous Israeli interdiction of a civilian flotilla.

McNamara added “Israel cannot continue to behave like a rogue state without consequences”