Gemma McLoughlin-Burke BL, Leigh Brosnan BL and Alexander Hogg on board the Shireen

Irish lawyers Gemma McLoughlin-Burke BL and Leigh Brosnan BL, as well as English solicitor Alexander Hogg, are on board the vessel, which began its journey earlier this month.

Hundreds of activists from over 45 countries are taking part in the Global Sumud Flotilla, which represents the largest-ever civilian effort to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza, which is illegal under international law.

The independent legal support boat, the Shireen, is accompanying and monitoring the flotilla and providing legal updates on its progress via its Instagram page.

Yesterday in the Dáil, Paul Murphy, the People Before Profit TD for Dublin South-West, challenged the government to protect the 22 Irish citizens taking part in the flotilla, including Sinn Féin senator Chris Andrews, who is set to be joined later by Independent TD Barry Heneghan.

“I am not asking our government to send a naval ship,” he said, having references decisions by the Italian and Spanish navies to do so.

“Will it agree to send an observer who will not attempt to enter Gaza? The legal observer boat will stop before Gazan waters.

“Will the government send an observer who will be present on a legal observer boat and who will be a witnesses and direct line of contact with it?”

Finance minister Paschal Donohoe, responding for the government, said he would “raise it with the Department of Foreign Affairs to see if there is a role for an observer”.

“I cannot immediately commit that an official can do this, but I certainly commit to following up on it,” Mr Donohoe said.

“We are at one in wanting to ensure that any citizen involved in such a peaceful act gets the protection of international law.”

A rare cross-party motion on the Global Sumud Flotilla is set to be introduced to the Dáil on Tuesday.

In a statement, the Dáil business committee said it last night had “a constructive discussion on the need for a joint motion of the Dáil, the wording of which is to be finalised, and which will be tabled on behalf of all members of Dáil Éireann on Tuesday next”.