Irishwoman to face military court

Treasa Ni Cheannabhain, left, and her daughter Naisrin el-Safty

An Irish woman who had been trapped in Gaza after sneaking into the Palestinian area has said she will now face a military court in Egypt.

Treasa Ni Cheannabhain, her daughter and an Egyptian niece were allowed back into Egypt on Thursday.

However, Ms Ni Cheannabhain was immediately taken in for questioning.

On Saturday, she said she was given a choice by the Egyptian authorities - to come before a military court, or to return to Gaza indefinitely.

The County Galway charity worker said she did not know when the court would convene.

She added that she was being well treated, and was free to move around within the camp along the Gaza/Egypt border.

Ms Ni Cheannabhain, 56, and her 19-year-old daughter Naisrin Elsafty are members of the Galway branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

The women crossed over into Gaza illegally from Egypt last Saturday after being refused legal entry by Egyptian authorities.

On Sunday, Egyptian forces resealed the Gaza border, nearly two weeks after its Israeli-built barriers had been blown apart by militants.

Egyptian border officials refused them re-entry, even though Ms Ni Cheannabhain is married to an Egyptian citizen.

They had been distributing money to Palestinians collected by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign.