Irish Politicians Condemn Use of Shannon Airport for Deportation Flights
Irish politicians have strongly criticized the use of Shannon airport in County Clare by private jets chartered by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to deport Palestinians from the United States to Israel. This revelation emerged from an investigation by , which disclosed that two separate flights carrying detainees to Israel made refuelling stops at Shannon airport.
The flights departed the US on 21 January and 1 February, respectively, and both stopped in Ireland without picking up or setting down passengers, a fact the Irish government cited to explain why prior approval from its transport department was not required.
The aircraft involved is owned by Gil Dezer, a property developer and known associate of former US President Donald Trump. Dezer’s family company has developed several Trump-branded residential towers in Miami. He has publicly expressed his admiration for Trump, claiming a friendship spanning two decades.
Some individuals aboard these flights reported being shackled by their wrists and ankles throughout the journey. Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, these deportees appear to have been transferred to the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Political Reactions in Ireland
Opposition politicians in Ireland have voiced serious concerns regarding the use of Shannon airport in these deportation operations. Duncan Smith, foreign affairs spokesperson for the Labour party, described the situation as:
“It is absolutely reprehensible that any ICE deportation flights would be allowed stop and refuel in Shannon. The taoiseach and minister for transport must intervene and ensure this ends.”
He further emphasized:
“Ireland cannot in any way be complicit in these ICE flights.”
Roderic O’Gorman, leader of the Green party, called it “deeply disturbing” that Shannon airport is facilitating what he characterized as the “cruel actions of Donald Trump’s ICE.”
Patricia Stephenson, foreign affairs spokesperson for the Social Democrats, urged the government to clarify whether it knowingly facilitated these flights. She expressed concerns about potential human rights violations of those onboard, as reported by the Irish Times.
Details on the Aircraft and Chartering Company
Dezer’s jet was chartered through Journey Aviation, a Florida-based company frequently used by US authorities to source private jets for deportation flights. Journey Aviation declined to comment on the flights to Israel.
Human Rights First (HRF), an organization that monitors deportation flights, noted that Dezer’s jet, which he has referred to as his “favourite toy,” was first chartered for removal flights in October of the previous year. The plane has since been used to transport detainees to countries including Kenya, Liberia, Guinea, and Eswatini, prior to its recent trips to Israel.
Personal Account from a Deportee
One of the deportees on the initial flight was Maher Awad, 24, originally from the West Bank and a US resident for nearly ten years. Awad has a partner and child in Michigan. He described the experience upon arrival:
“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’.”
Response from Gil Dezer and US Authorities
In communication with , Dezer stated that he was “never privy to the names” of passengers or the purpose of the flights when his jet was chartered by Journey Aviation. He indicated that he was only informed of the dates the aircraft was used. Dezer did not respond to further inquiries regarding the use of his jet by the Trump administration for deporting Palestinians through Israel.
Aviation industry sources estimate that ICE incurred costs between $400,000 and $500,000 for these flights.
A spokesperson for the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) declined to answer specific questions about the deportation flights to Israel but stated:
“If a judge finds an illegal alien has no right to be in this country, we are going to remove them. Period.”
