The Irish nurse who was deported by Israel after the end of the siege at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is due to arrive at Dublin Airport this evening.
Ms Mary Kelly, from Baltimore in West Cork, arrived in London last night on a flight from Tel Aviv.
The five-week siege ended last Friday. Ms Kelly and seven other peace activists from the International Solidarity Movement had been on hunger strike since they were arrested outside the Church by the Israeli army.
They had gained access to the Church of the Nativity, revered as the birthplace of Christ, on May 2nd, bringing food, water and medical supplies to the Palestinians holed up inside. Ms Kelly, the only nurse among the peace activists, provided medical assistance to the wounded.
The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign said she was also in Bethlehem for the worst of the Israeli invasion and smuggled herself into Nablus during the Israeli imposed closures to volunteer with medics from Palestinian Red Crescent.
An IPSC spokeswoman said a number of foreign activists arrested alongside Ms Kelly are still being held in an Israeli prison.
She said Ms Kelly received substantial support from the Irish Consulate in Israel in securing her release. However, her American colleagues reported difficulties in getting assistance from their embassy.
Four American men are still in Ramle detention centre waiting to be deported.
