Published Thursday, 02 July 2009
According to the Free Gaza Movement, one of them has sent an email to supporters from inside Givon jail.
The brief message said: "Conditions at the prison are appalling, 14-20 to a cell measuring 7m by 7m.
"Nobel laureate Mairead McGuire(sic) forcibly removed in handcuffs and status unknown."
Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin has called for the immediate release of Mairead Maguire, 65, and former Irish soldier Derek Graham, 40, who are waiting to be deported.
Mr Martin said officials in his department have been in contact with Israeli authorities through the embassy in Dublin and the Irish Ambassador in Tel Aviv to secure their release.
"I have been assured by the Israeli authorities that they are both well and are being properly treated," the minister said.
The group said their vessel was carrying medical and reconstruction supplies as well as children's toys and could not constitute any threat to Israel.
The boat was searched and received security clearance from the Cypriot Port Authorities before departing, they said.
The email - whose author has not been disclosed - said the activists were 18 miles off the coast of Gaza when they were "kidnapped" by Israeli special forces supported by six navy gunships.
Israel has said that the boat was attempting to enter the Gaza Strip illegally.
An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman said the navy took control of the cargo boat after its crew ignored warnings it could not enter Gazan coastal waters.