UPDATE: Laois nurse confirms all Irish on Gaza bound flotilla taken by Israel as last boat intercepted

A Laois nurse and the coordinator for the Irish delegation on the Global Sumud Flotilla says that all of the Irish citizens aboard the flotilla have now been detained, with all 43 boats now intercepted by Israeli forces.

Helen Lawlor from Mountmellick spoke on RTÉ Radio's Morning Ireland to say that they have been transported to a prison in the Negev desert for processing.

She sayts that the only contact they have with the Irish citizens is from Palestinian lawyers there.

It is understood that 22 Irish citizens were on board the flotilla in total.

Ms Lawlor added that they will pass that information on to the families once they know it is credible and verified.

"Generally, what happens is they're offered various forms to sign. People choose themselves whether to sign the forms or not because the first form will say that they have entered Israel illegally, whereas none of these people have actually entered Israel illegally, they were all brought there against their will after being intercepted in international waters," she explained.

"If they don't sign those forms, they have the opportunity to go in front of a judge and have a hearing and be deported, generally maybe 72 to 96 hours afterwards.

"But we can never guarantee what will happen this time, because this is very different. People have been through this process before but never almost 500 people at one time."

Read more: Laois nurse supporting Irish families of detainees of Gaza flotilla

Helen Lawlor says more flotillas will keep coming.

"Either humanity perseveres or governments step up and create this humanitarian aid corridor. The sea is a legal way of travel, and this is through international waters. None of these flotillas are doing anything illegal, these are all legal acts.

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"It's absolutely preposterous to think that one government can control the whole world's reaction to a genocide. That's what's happening here. These flotillas will continue over and over and over again until aid gets into Gaza by the sea," she said.