Three people arrested after halting plane at Shannon Airport

The pro-Palestine protesters have claimed that the plane is supplying munitions and troops to Israel.

The three members who attempted to halt the plane were arrested.

The incident occurred around 6:30pm on Thursday evening and led to the airport being temporarily closed, according to the BBC.

It has been reported that three people dressed in orange jumpsuits and hard hats drove a van through a perimeter fence to gain access to the runway.

Gardaí said they responded to an incident of "criminal damage" and that the three people are being detained at a garda station in Co Clare, reports RTÉ.

Palestine Action Éire have alleged that the Omni Air Boeing 767-300 CRAF is supplying troops and munitions to active war zones in the Middle East, including Israel and Yemen.

They claim that this is in direct violation of Ireland’s constitutional commitment to neutrality and in breach of international law.

A video from the group shows the members jumping from the top of a van and making a run for the runway.

The group states that the "Irish Government is acting against the will of the people of Ireland" by allowing these planes to land in Ireland.

According to the Irish Examiner, in 2024 alone, there were 1,260 flights approved to carry munitions through Irish airspace.

In a press release, Palestine Action Éire references investigative reporting from The Ditch and the Military Tracker project to back up their claims, as both have stated that US weapons and military personnel are regularly travelling to the Middle East, including directly to Israel, via Shannon Airport. 

Palestine Action Éire added in the release: "This is in direct breach of Ireland’s constitutional commitment to neutrality, which specifies that Ireland shall not participate in any war."

A statement from a Palestine Action Éire activist said the following: "Our government is literally fueling genocide. The government continues to allow troops and weapons through Shannon against the democratic will of the people!

"Over the last year and a half I've realised that the only way to disrupt the war machine is through Direct Action.

"I’m doing what is necessary to save innocent lives because when I am older I want to be able look back and say I did everything I could to stop this genocide. Saoirse don Phailaistín"