‘They abducted me’: Well-known Irish author speaks out on Israeli detention

A young Irish woman has spoken out on her experience in Israeli detention, following her return home. 

Author Naoise Dolan was intercepted by Israeli forces whilst on a flotilla delivering aid last Wednesday, October 8. 

Speaking upon her return to Ireland she said: “The two things that saddened and horrified me the most, were number one on the wall across from our cell, they had a giant Israeli flag of course, and beneath it an even bigger poster with an image of a road in Gaza that had been rendered completely rubble by them and then a caption that said in Arabic that read ‘the new Gaza’.”

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Dolan further described how she came across a small playground for children in an Israeli immigration prison that had barbed wire on the ceiling. 

She continued: “They beat people, They gave people black eyes. They pulled people by their hair.” 

According to her account, the guards were: “Constantly yelling…constantly barging into our rooms, interrupting our sleep.”

While assuring she is okay, she admitted: “I have a few bruises. I got shoved around a bit. My cable ties were tied around too tightly and I lost circulation in my hands, it was quite scary.”

The author affirmed: "I want you to remember this is them on their best behaviour. This is them remembering there’s international media attention." 

“Palestinians are still in these jails.”

Senator Chris Andrews and TD Barry Heneghan were also detained by Israel while attempting to deliver aid to Gaza. 

Naoise Dolan authored bestselling books: Exciting Times and The Happy Couple.