All Irish citizens who were detained last week after the flotilla they were on was intercepted by Israeli forces have been released and are on their way home to Ireland, the Department of Foreign Affairs has said.
It is understood that they are now getting on a flight to Greece where they will then travel on to Ireland.
Irish flotilla organisers said 15 Irish citizens were released from detention today.
In a statement, Tánaiste Simon Harris said it comes after a weekend of intensive efforts by officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Irish embassy in Tel Aviv and international partners.
Another flotilla is now on the way to Gaza with a number of Irish citizens on board.
Mr Harris said he has instructed his officials to closely monitor this situation.
"I know that this has been a difficult time for both the Irish citizens and their families, and I pay tribute to their strength throughout," he said.
"Dublin-based officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade remain in close contact with family members who have requested our support, and will continue to update them."
Earlier, the Department of Foreign Affairs said that it was at an "advanced stage" with regard to the arrangements for the return of detained Irish citizens in Israel.
The Irish citizens were among over 450 who were on a flotilla on the way to Gaza that was intercepted by Israeli authorities last week.
It is understood that the Irish citizens were at Ktzi'ot Prison near the border with Egypt awaiting deportation until this morning.
Lawyers representing those detained at the prison reported poor conditions for detainees.
Legal aid group Adalah has accused Israel of inhumane treatment, abuse and initimadation of some of those detained.
The group said detainees had received little food and there was a lack of clean drinking water.
The Irish citizens were first held at Ashdod port for several hours in the early hours of Friday morning before being brought to Ktzi'ot Prison in the Negev desert, about an hour and 40 minutes from Ashdod near the border with Egypt.
They were involved in the Global Sumud Flotilla which aimed to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza and break the naval blockade imposed by Israel.
A separate flotilla involving around 12 ships, with around seven Irish citizens onboard, is currently en route to Gaza.
Global hunger monitor IPC determined last month that an entirely man-made famine is currently taking place in Gaza, while UN human rights chief Volker Turk said the famine was the direct result of Israeli government policies.
Meanwhile, an independent UN commission concluded last month that Israel has committed and continues to commit genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
Gaza flotilla activists allege mistreatment while being detained
Some of the activists detained while trying to reach Gaza by sea have returned to their home countries and have described mistreatment at the hands of Israeli guards.
On his return at Rome's Fiumicino Airport late on Saturday, Italian journalist Saverio Tommasi said Israeli soldiers withheld medicines and treated prisoners "like monkeys".
Among those detained were Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, Nelson Mandela's grandson Mandla Mandela and several European legislators.
Mr Tommasi said Ms Thunberg was singled out by Israeli forces after being arrested.
"We also saw Greta Thunberg at the port, in that case with her arms tied and an Israeli flag next to her, just a mockery," he said.
"Let’s say the mockery was part of the verbal and psychological violence they always carried out, in order to demean, ridicule and laugh in situations where there is nothing to laugh about."
In a statement on social media, the Israeli foreign ministry claimed all detainees’ legal rights had been "fully upheld", adding that Ms Thunberg had not complained about the "ludicrous and baseless allegations - because they never occurred".
Another Italian journalist, Lorenzo D'Agostino, said detainees were repeatedly woken during the two nights he spent behind bars.
They were also intimidated with dogs and by soldiers pointing the laser sights of their guns at prisoners "to scare us", he said. He spoke after landing at Istanbul Airport, where 137 activists from 13 countries arrived from Israel on Saturday.
Mr D’Agostino added that his belongings and money had been "stolen by the Israelis".
Activist Paolo De Montis described being crammed into a prison van for hours with his hands secured by zip ties.
"Constant stress and humiliation," he said. "You weren’t allowed to look them in the face, always had to keep your head down and when I did look up, a man … came and shook me and slapped me on the back of the head. They forced us to stay on our knees for four hours."
Additional reporting PA
