Westmeath woman on boat to Gaza says it's been intercepted by Israel

A Westmeath woman who is travelling alongside a sister of President Catherine Connolly on board a Gaza aid flotilla said this morning (Monday) that their vessel was being intercepted by Israel.

"I'm going to be taken by the Israelis right now. We don't know what they're going to do with us," Moate's Louise McCormack told the Westmeath Independent in a voice message at around 8.30am, Irish time, this morning. Attempts to contact her since then have been unsuccessful.

RTÉ, meanwhile, is reporting that the organisers of the flotilla - which has a total of 15 Irish citizens onboard - said Israeli forces boarded one of the flotilla vessels and contact had been lost with another of the boats in the eastern Mediterranean.

Louise McCormack set off last month as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla and has been travelling on the same boat as Sligo's Margaret Connolly, sister of President Catherine Connolly.

On the @irelandforpeace Instagram page yesterday (Sunday), Louise shared a video of herself celebrating Westmeath's win over Dublin in the Leinster football final.

"I'm on the flotilla heading to Gaza. The Israelis might have us tonight, but we have Dublin today!" she said.

She also criticised the four Government TDs in the Longford/Westmeath constituency for their expected votes against the People Before Profit-sponsored Sanctions against the State of Israel Bill, which calls for Ireland to “break off all economic trade, financial relations with the state of Israel”.

The bill is expected to come before the Dáil for a vote this Wednesday, May 20, and according to the website votetosanctionisrael.com Deputies Peter Burke (FG), Robert Troy (FF), Kevin 'Boxer' Moran (Ind) and Micheal Carrigy (FG) have indicated that they intend to vote against the bill.

"These lads are going in and voting to back the Government, instead of backing the people of Ireland. They should be ashamed of themselves," said Louise.