Tadhg Hickey (centre right) one of a group of Irish activists returning, is greeted by supporters as they arrive at Dublin Airport on October 7, 2025, after being deported from Israel. (Photo by Paul Faith / AFP)
Dublin: Irish activists who returned to Dublin on Friday after being detained and expelled by Israel for trying to ship aid to Gaza said they were ready to have another go, despite alleging mistreatment in Israeli prison.
"There's another flotilla underway now and we'll be going back on another," activist Paddy O'Donovan told reporters at Dublin Airport after landing with four others who tried to break through Israel's blockade of Gaza.
The activists were greeted by cheers from around 100 supporters chanting pro-Palestinian slogans, and hugs from tearful family members.
Israel began intercepting vessels, part of Global Sumud Flotilla, last week, with police saying more than 470 people aboard the boats were arrested.
Comedian Tadhg Hickey told AFP of poor conditions while they were held in prison in Israel, including lack of access to medicine and clean drinking water -- claims that were echoed by other flotilla activists.
"To come face to face with the level of sadism and inhumanity that they display was really quite shocking to me," Hickey said about the prison conditions.
The comedian and activist said the treatment and expulsion would not "deter" him.
"I'm happy to spend the rest of my life trying to bring this apartheid state down," said Hickey, adding the flotillas would be "relentless".
O'Donovan said he worried whether he would "make it back" home because of the treatment from Israeli soldiers.
"We were drinking dirty water from one bathroom in an eight-man cell, with about 15 to 20 people in each cell," said O'Donovan.
"Some people without mattresses, we had to share mattresses on the floor. And they stripped us naked when we got there."
Dublin on Monday said 16 Irish citizens who were detained by Israel had been released and were on their way home.
