Monday, October 09, 2023

NORTHERN IRELAND


Pro-Palestinian activists place giant flag on Belfast mountain, while M&S is targeted in sticker blitz


A giant Palestinian flag on Black mountain

Amy Cochrane
Today at 10:03

Republican activists erected a giant Palestinian flag on Black mountain.

Gael Force Art posted on Facebook that their group “stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people who launched their biggest operation in fifty years against the rogue state of Israel”.

They added that they will support “our Palestinian brothers and sisters who will continue to face a murderous bombardment from the Zionist Israel state”.

They added that “Israel maintains a system of settler colonialism, apartheid and occupation over the Palestinian people.

“Gael Force Art calls on everyone to fly the Palestinian flag in support of the Palestinian people. Long Live Palestine.”

Elsewhere, activists in Co Down have “relabelled” goods in Marks & Spencer with pro-Palestinian stickers.

The ‘Newry Rebel Art’ group took to Facebook to highlight the act, which they said: “will make people aware of the reality of what is happening in Palestine”.

The stickers are of the Palestinian flag with the words ‘Boycott Israeli Apartheid’.

They said the reason behind it is because the store is a “leading distributor of Israeli goods”.

In a post on Facebook on Sunday, barely 24 hours after Hamas led attacks against Israel, they said: “Such stores use suppliers that trade in products from illegal Israeli settlements, these settlements are built on stolen Palestinian land and are illegal under international law.

“Purchasing Israeli products provides support to the Israeli economy, which in turn lends support to the Israeli state and its murderous campaign against the Palestinian people.


“The boycotting of Israeli goods sends a very strong economic and political message to Israel – ‘apartheid and genocide are not acceptable in our world.’

“Just like the apartheid regime of South Africa, Israel is on the wrong side of history. For as long as that regime exists right-thinking people across the world will organise opposition to it.”

Dissident republican group Saoradh – regarded as the political wing of the New IRA – yesterday raised the Palestinian flag at its Newry office.

A flag representing the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine [PFLP] was also held aloft in support of the Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, the armed wing of the Front, spokesman Stephen Murney said.

“Irish Republicans have watched with admiration as Palestinians bravely stood up against all odds and launched ‘Operation Al-Aqsa Flood’, an offensive against the Israeli war machine,” he said.

“We salute the martyrs who have selflessly paid the supreme sacrifice while resisting the occupiers over the past few days. Their bravery and resilience is inspiring for Revolutionary anti-imperialists around the world, ourselves included.”

MLA Gerry Carroll hits back after criticism of ‘Victory to the Palestinian Resistance’ social media post



People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll speaking during a rally at Belfast City Hall in response to the Israeli attack on�Jenin refugee camp.
Credit: Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX
Mark BainToday at 13:19

Left-wing politician Gerry Carroll has said he “will be taking no lessons” from Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie after the People Before Profit MLA sparked anger after tweeting: “Victory to the Palestinian Resistance”, accompanied by two clenched fist emojis.

Mr Beattie has reported the post to the Assembly’s Standards Commissioner while UUP deputy leader Robbie Butler said the West Belfast MLA's comments were “utterly disgusting” and “despicable”.

In response to the criticism for his comments as their war of words continued, Mr Carroll said: “I’ll be taking no lectures from Doug Beattie or anyone else who hasn’t a word to utter about the brutal occupation, apartheid and violence faced by Palestinians on a daily basis.”


He also referred to Mr Beattie’s book An Ordinary Soldier, in which the former the Royal Irish Regiment captain and Military Cross recipient wrote about his experiences in Afghanistan.

“In Doug’s book, Israeli state terror – inaccurately described as ‘right to defend itself ‘ – is fine, and he seems to have no problem supporting a nuclear state that’s armed to the teeth which regularly terrorises Palestinians.

“Doug would do well to reconsider his party’s support for a state that has widely been condemned across the world, including in Ireland, for its ongoing violence, denial of the right to return of some six million refugees and regular human rights abuses,” added Mr Carroll

Mr Beattie had criticised the social media post on Saturday, which followed news of Hamas attacks on Israel, saying: “Such acts, as with any act of terror, must be condemned in the strongest sense by all right-minded people. To act or comment on this horror with triumphalism is nothing short of abhorrent.

“Therefore, I was shocked and disgusted to see a People Before Profit MLA – Gerry Carroll – tweet ‘victory to the Palestinian resistance’ as these images were being broadcast on our screens.

“Promoting violence and a terrorist attack in this manner is not acceptable and brings Stormont into disrepute.

“On behalf of the Ulster Unionist Party MLA group, my party leader is reporting him and his comments to the Standards Commissioner.”

Alliance MP Stephen Farry said the post was “shameful” while former First Minister Dame Arlene Foster added: “Surely this is against the Assembly pledge against violence? It’s absolutely disgraceful.”



DUP brands Sinn Fein ‘shameful’ over pro-Palestinian posts as British citizen among the dead

500 Israeli civilians killed and dozens more taken hostage after Hamas attackOver 400 Palestinians dead and nearly 2,000 injured in Gaza from retaliatory air strikes

Netanyahu warns Israel will take "mighty vengeance for this black day"

Assembly watchdog urged to probe ‘disgusting’ post by People Before Profit MLA



Cars are on fire after they were hit by rockets from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, Israel




Fire and smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City (Fatima Shbair/AP)

Sinn Fein has been branded “shameless” over social media posts following the deadly attack by Hamas that killed over 500 Israelis.

DUP MLA Emma Little-Pengelly hit out after the party’s youth wing Tweeted a photo of a Palestinian flag, saying it was “a disgrace”.

The post was also criticised by UUP leader Doug Beattie, who also described a post from the party’s South Down MP Chris Hazzard in support of Palestine as “crass”.

It came as the Assembly watchdog was urged to probe a “disgusting” pro-Palestinian Tweet from People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll.

In the most serious escalation in the decades-old conflict in a generation, Palestinian militants launched an unprecedented assault into Israeli territory, sending fighters across the border and firing thousands of rockets.

More than 500 Israelis have been killed since Saturday, local media reported this afternoon.

Israel retaliated with strikes in Gaza City, reducing buildings to rubble, with at least 400 more dead. Its premier Benjamin Netanyahu declared Israel will take "mighty vengeance for this black day".

He warned people living in Gaza to leave as he vowed to turn parts of the territory "into rubble" in revenge.

A 20-year-old British man serving in the Israeli army is among the dead. Nathanel Young was serving with the Israeli Defence Services when he was killed on the Gaza border on Saturday.

His death comes after 26-year-old Jake Marlow, who went to the same London school at Mr Young, was reported missing while providing security at a music festival near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza border.

Dozens of Israelis have been taken hostage by Palestinian militants. The Israeli Embassy to the United States put the figure at 100 in a social media post.


There has been widespread condemnation, with US President Joe Biden saying support for Israel was “rock solid and unwavering”.

Read more
‘Massive shooting of rockets’ amid unprecedented Hamas operation against Israel

However, Sinn Fein’s youth wing, Ogra Sinn Fein, was criticised after Tweeting an image on Saturday evening of a Palestinian flag.

Ms Little-Pengelly said it was “shameful by Sinn Fein”.

She added: “No matter the view on the region SF may have, the murder and torture, including of many, many civilians, is wrong and evil. To allow the official Sinn Fein youth organisation to post this of all days is a disgrace.”

Mr Beattie said he was “staggered” by what he said was Sinn Fein’s “support” for Hamas’s actions.


He also described as “unbelievably crass” comments by Mr Hazzard on X, where he said: “Palestinians must be free to live without oppression, apartheid & colonisation”, adding “Free Palestine”.

Sinn Fein was contacted for comment on both posts. The party referred to an earlier statement from TD Matt Carthy

Mr Carthy said: “The attacks by Hamas against Israeli civilians and military targets, and the Israeli bombardment on Gaza, must stop immediately. These events have the potential to lead towards a new dangerous tipping point.”

He added: “A lasting and just peace between Palestinians and Israelis requires an end to the occupation and apartheid systems being imposed upon the Palestinian people.”

Earlier, West Belfast MLA Gerry Carroll sparked anger after Tweeting: “Victory to the Palestinian Resistance”, accompanied by two clenched fist emojis.


Mr Beattie has reported the post to the Assembly’s Standards Commissioner.

UUP deputy leader Robbie Butler said Mr Carroll’s comments were “utterly disgusting” and “despicable”.

“Such acts, as with any act of terror, must be condemned in the strongest sense by all right-minded people. To act or comment on this horror with triumphalism is nothing short of abhorrent,” he said.

“Therefore, I was shocked and disgusted to see a People Before Profit MLA - Gerry Carroll - tweet 'victory to the Palestinian resistance' as these images were being broadcast on our screens.

“Promoting violence and a terrorist attack in this manner is not acceptable and brings Stormont into disrepute.

"On behalf of the Ulster Unionist Party MLA group, my party leader is reporting him and his comments to the Standards Commissioner.”

Alliance MP Stephen Farry said the post was “shameful”.

Former First Minister Dame Arlene Foster said: “Surely this is against the Assembly pledge against violence. It’s absolutely disgraceful.”

On Saturday evening, Tel Aviv and other central Israeli cities were hit by a new barrage of rockets.

President Biden reaffirmed the US's full support for Israel, saying its support is "rock solid and unwavering".


"This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks, to seek an advantage. The world is watching,” he added.

Israel’s ambassador to the UK says the country is now in a “necessity war” with Hamas “to protect our people”.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast from Giv’at Shumel in Israel, Tzipi Hotovoley says Israelis woke up yesterday to a “nightmare”, and called Hamas a “terrorist organisation” that targets civilians and “innocent children”.

Read more
US and European leaders condemn Hamas attack on Israel

Israel has blockaded Gaza since Hamas gained control of the territory in 2007 and the two have fought wars ever since.

Hamas caught Israel off-guard on Simchat Torah, a major holiday, with the strength, sophistication and timing of the attack shocking Israelis.

On Sunday an Israeli military official said "hundreds of terrorists" have been killed and dozens captured amid ongoing fighting with Hamas militants in Gaza and southern Israel.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari spoke to reporters, more than 24 hours after the Palestinian militant group launched an unprecedented assault into Israel.

Israeli soldiers battled Hamas fighters in streets in the south of the country on Sunday and exchanged strikes with Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group in the north.

The prospect of Hezbollah joining the fighting a day after the attack from Gaza raised the chances of a broader conflict.

Hamas fighters, backed by a volley of thousands of rockets, broke through barricades around Gaza early on Saturday to rampage through nearby communities in Israel.

They took captives back into the coastal enclave, including women, children and the elderly, while Israel's retaliation strikes levelled buildings in Gaza.

Israeli media, citing rescue service officials, said at least 300 people were killed, including 26 soldiers.

More than 400 Palestinian militants have been killed in southern Israel and the Gaza Strip, and dozens more have been captured, according to IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari.

On Saturday, Hamas gunmen used explosives to break through the border fence enclosing Gaza, then crossed with motorcycles, pick-up trucks, paragliders and speed boats on the coast.

They rolled into as many as 22 locations outside the Gaza Strip, including towns and other communities as far as 15 miles from the Gaza border, while Hamas launched thousands of rockets at Israeli cities.

On Sunday, the Israeli military said its forces were fighting Hamas incursions in eight places.

An Israeli military spokesperson said two hostage situations had been "resolved" but did not say whether all the hostages had been rescued alive.

In a televised address on Saturday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military will use all of its strength to destroy Hamas' capabilities.

"All the places that Hamas hides in, operates from, we will turn them into ruins," he added.




Smoke rises from an explosion caused by an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land, and sea and catching the country off-guard on a major holiday. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)




Rockets are fired toward Israel from Gaza, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023




People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll




Palestinians celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis




A paraglider attempting to infiltrate southern Israel




Hundreds of people have been injured in the attacks, with at least 22 Israelis dead, according to Israeli officials.




Israeli soldiers deploy in Sderot, Israel, on Saturday




Cars are on fire after they were hit by rockets from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, Israel




Fire and smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City (Fatima Shbair/AP)

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