The utilization of an airport in County Clare, Ireland, for deportation flights transporting Palestinians from the United States to Israel has been labeled as "reprehensible" by various Irish politicians.
A recent investigation by The Guardian unveiled that a private jet, owned by Gil Dezer—a known donor to former President Donald Trump—was chartered by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for two distinct flights ferrying detainees to Israel. These flights departed the United States on January 21 and February 1, making refueling stops at Shannon Airport located in western Ireland.
Gil Dezer, whose family property business has developed numerous Trump-branded high-rise apartments in Miami, has expressed his admiration for the former president, claiming a friendship that spans over two decades. Notably, individuals who were aboard Dezer's jet reported being shackled at both wrists and ankles throughout their travel. Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, these individuals were seemingly taken to the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
In light of these events, the Irish government stated that since the flights were merely stopping for "non-traffic purposes" and did not involve the boarding or disembarking of passengers, they didn't require prior approval from the country's transport department. However, this explanation did not sit well with opposition leaders, who voiced their concerns in an article for the Irish Times.
Duncan Smith, the foreign affairs spokesperson for Ireland's Labour Party, expressed strong disapproval, stating, "It is absolutely reprehensible that any ICE deportation flights would be allowed to stop and refuel in Shannon. The Taoiseach and Minister for Transport must intervene to ensure this practice ends." He further emphasized, "Ireland cannot in any way be complicit in these ICE flights."
Roderic O’Gorman, the leader of the Green Party, described it as "deeply disturbing" to discover that Shannon Airport was being used to facilitate what he termed the cruel actions of Donald Trump’s ICE. Patricia Stephenson, representing the Social Democrats, called upon the government to clarify whether it had knowingly facilitated these flights, expressing her concern that the human rights of those on board may have been violated.
Journey Aviation, the Florida-based company responsible for chartering Dezer’s aircraft, frequently collaborates with US authorities for private jet arrangements but declined to comment on the specific flights to Israel. Human Rights First (HRF), an organization that tracks deportation flights, noted that Dezer's jet, which he has affectionately referred to as his "favorite toy," was first chartered for such purposes last October. This aircraft has previously been utilized to transport detainees to countries including Kenya, Liberia, Guinea, and Eswatini, before its more recent journeys to Israel.
One passenger on the initial flight, Maher Awad, a 24-year-old originally from the West Bank who has resided in the US for nearly ten years, shared his harrowing experience. Having a partner and infant child in Michigan, he recounted, "They dropped us off like animals on the side of the road. We went to a local house, we knocked on the door, we were like: ‘Please help us out.’"
In correspondence with The Guardian, Dezer claimed he was "never privy to the names" of the individuals traveling on his jet when it was privately chartered through Journey Aviation, nor was he informed about the purpose of the flights. He mentioned, "The only thing I’m notified about is the dates of use." Further inquiries regarding the usage of his jet for deporting Palestinians through Israel received no response.
Industry sources estimate the costs incurred by ICE for these flights ranged between $400,000 and $500,000. A spokesperson for the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not provide answers regarding the deportation flights to Israel, but firmly stated, "If a judge finds an illegal alien has no right to be in this country, we are going to remove them. Period."
This situation raises important questions about the ethics of international deportations and the role of countries like Ireland in facilitating such actions. How do you feel about Ireland's involvement in these flights? Is it justifiable under any circumstances? Share your thoughts!
