IRELAND
Thousands join pro-Palestinian march in central Dublin
Protesters from the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign during a march in O’Connell Street, Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)
By Cillian Sherlock, PA
Protesters from the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign during a march in O’Connell Street, Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)
By Cillian Sherlock, PA
Today
Thousands of people have marched through Dublin city centre in a protest against Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
The Pro-Palestinian march began at around 1.30pm from the Garden of Remembrance and proceeded along the city’s main thoroughfare O’Connell Street before arriving outside the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Protesters waved Palestinian flags and held placards critical of the Irish, US and Israeli governments.
Protesters from the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (Brian Lawless/PA)
Demonstrators accused Israel of committing genocide as they chanted “free, free Palestine” and “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”.
Participants variously called for a ceasefire in Gaza, the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador to Ireland and for the Irish government to support South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) alleging that Israel is committing genocide.
It is almost 100 days since Hamas gunmen launched an assault on Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7, killing 1,200 and taking about 240 hostages, to which Israeli military responded with air strikes and a ground offensive on Palestinian territory.
Ireland’s main opposition parties, including Sinn Fein, Labour and the Social Democrats, have called on the Government to endorse South Africa’s action.
Protesters during a march in O’Connell Street (Brian Lawless/PA)
However, the Irish premier Leo Varadkar has said the Government does not intend to join the case.
The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which organised the rally, said the demonstration was part of an international day of action calling for an end to Israel’s operations in Gaza.
The march is endorsed by dozens of Irish civil society organisations including trade unions, political parties and community groups.
Protesters in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)
Spokeswoman Betty Purcell told the PA news agency: “It’s a huge demonstration, it is the biggest one we’ve had so far. We’ve been marching every Saturday.
“We need a ceasefire now but most of all we want to call out the Irish Government for its disgraceful refusal to support the South African case at the ICJ.
“They don’t speak for the Irish people, not by any means.”
Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign chairwoman Zoe Lawlor (Cillian Sherlock/PA)
IPSC chairwoman Zoe Lawlor said the demonstration was a “total and utter rejection of Israel’s genocide”.
Ms Lawlor said: “We are here today to express our outrage that this has been allowed, that world leaders have enabled, funded and green-lighted genocide and our Government has done absolutely nothing to stop it.”
The crowd booed and shouted “shame” at the Government while others joined chants calling for support of boycott, divestment and sanction (BDS) actions against Israel.
She added: “The Palestinian people should be able to exist in a world without violence and oppression, to live in the ordinary, to live in freedom.”
Bernadette McAliskey addressing the demonstration (Cillian Sherlock/PA)
Veteran Northern Irish civil rights campaigner Bernadette McAliskey told the crowd that “Palestine is the litmus test of our humanity”.
The 76-year-old activist said she had been standing up for the rights of Palestinians for more than 50 years.
She called on Irish premier Leo Varadkar and deputy premier Micheal Martin, as well as Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald to boycott traditional St Patrick’s Day visits to Washington as she accused US president Joe Biden of “enabling genocide”.
“Who in their right mind and conscience, on the national day of a country that freed itself from oppression, would go to America and give the bastard a bunch of fecking shamrock?
“It is not much to ask. Weigh up the corpses of Gaza against a jolly in the United States.”
To applause, Ms McAliskey also encouraged the demonstrators not to give any preference vote to politicians who do travel to Washington.
Protesters take part in a march organised by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign on O’Connell Street (Brian Lawless/PA)
Protesters of all ages, some wearing keffiyehs or waving South African flags, took part in the march through drizzly conditions in Dublin.
Among them, Fiona Sullivan and Geraldine Lee travelled from Belfast in Northern Ireland to participate.
Ms Sullivan said: “It’s an absolute disgrace what’s going on, the world needs to show that we’re not going to accept it
Geraldine Lee and Fiona Sullivan (right) travelled from Belfast to participate in the Dublin rally (Cillian Sherlock/PA)
“This is the little that we can do to show the people of Gaza and Palestine that the Irish people are 100% behind them whether our government is behind them or not – we are.”
Ms Lee added: “They’re not in line with the public at all. The public have completely different ideas.
“The Government must not watch anything or see the children dying in Palestine. They don’t understand what’s going on – I can’t sleep thinking about it.”
Thousands of people have marched through Dublin city centre in a protest against Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
The Pro-Palestinian march began at around 1.30pm from the Garden of Remembrance and proceeded along the city’s main thoroughfare O’Connell Street before arriving outside the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Protesters waved Palestinian flags and held placards critical of the Irish, US and Israeli governments.
Protesters from the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (Brian Lawless/PA)
Demonstrators accused Israel of committing genocide as they chanted “free, free Palestine” and “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”.
Participants variously called for a ceasefire in Gaza, the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador to Ireland and for the Irish government to support South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) alleging that Israel is committing genocide.
It is almost 100 days since Hamas gunmen launched an assault on Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7, killing 1,200 and taking about 240 hostages, to which Israeli military responded with air strikes and a ground offensive on Palestinian territory.
Ireland’s main opposition parties, including Sinn Fein, Labour and the Social Democrats, have called on the Government to endorse South Africa’s action.
Protesters during a march in O’Connell Street (Brian Lawless/PA)
However, the Irish premier Leo Varadkar has said the Government does not intend to join the case.
The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which organised the rally, said the demonstration was part of an international day of action calling for an end to Israel’s operations in Gaza.
The march is endorsed by dozens of Irish civil society organisations including trade unions, political parties and community groups.
Protesters in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)
Spokeswoman Betty Purcell told the PA news agency: “It’s a huge demonstration, it is the biggest one we’ve had so far. We’ve been marching every Saturday.
“We need a ceasefire now but most of all we want to call out the Irish Government for its disgraceful refusal to support the South African case at the ICJ.
“They don’t speak for the Irish people, not by any means.”
Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign chairwoman Zoe Lawlor (Cillian Sherlock/PA)
IPSC chairwoman Zoe Lawlor said the demonstration was a “total and utter rejection of Israel’s genocide”.
Ms Lawlor said: “We are here today to express our outrage that this has been allowed, that world leaders have enabled, funded and green-lighted genocide and our Government has done absolutely nothing to stop it.”
The crowd booed and shouted “shame” at the Government while others joined chants calling for support of boycott, divestment and sanction (BDS) actions against Israel.
She added: “The Palestinian people should be able to exist in a world without violence and oppression, to live in the ordinary, to live in freedom.”
Bernadette McAliskey addressing the demonstration (Cillian Sherlock/PA)
Veteran Northern Irish civil rights campaigner Bernadette McAliskey told the crowd that “Palestine is the litmus test of our humanity”.
The 76-year-old activist said she had been standing up for the rights of Palestinians for more than 50 years.
She called on Irish premier Leo Varadkar and deputy premier Micheal Martin, as well as Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald to boycott traditional St Patrick’s Day visits to Washington as she accused US president Joe Biden of “enabling genocide”.
“Who in their right mind and conscience, on the national day of a country that freed itself from oppression, would go to America and give the bastard a bunch of fecking shamrock?
“It is not much to ask. Weigh up the corpses of Gaza against a jolly in the United States.”
To applause, Ms McAliskey also encouraged the demonstrators not to give any preference vote to politicians who do travel to Washington.
Protesters take part in a march organised by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign on O’Connell Street (Brian Lawless/PA)
Protesters of all ages, some wearing keffiyehs or waving South African flags, took part in the march through drizzly conditions in Dublin.
Among them, Fiona Sullivan and Geraldine Lee travelled from Belfast in Northern Ireland to participate.
Ms Sullivan said: “It’s an absolute disgrace what’s going on, the world needs to show that we’re not going to accept it
Geraldine Lee and Fiona Sullivan (right) travelled from Belfast to participate in the Dublin rally (Cillian Sherlock/PA)
“This is the little that we can do to show the people of Gaza and Palestine that the Irish people are 100% behind them whether our government is behind them or not – we are.”
Ms Lee added: “They’re not in line with the public at all. The public have completely different ideas.
“The Government must not watch anything or see the children dying in Palestine. They don’t understand what’s going on – I can’t sleep thinking about it.”
Actress Jamie-Lee O’Donnell joins pro-Palestine march in Derry on Saturday.
Pic by Martin McKeown.
Derry Girls star Jamie-Lee O’Donnell joined hundreds of Pro-Palestine protestors in the Maiden City during an international day of action.
Saturday’s rally was organised by the Derry Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (DIPSC) which is calling for the "immediate end to the Israeli war on Gaza".
The actress joined demonstrators who retraced the steps of the historic civil rights route of 1968 from the Waterside to the Guildhall.
Some of those taking part carried a banner which read “end genocide in Gaza now”.
O’Donnell was carrying a baby doll wrapped in a white cloth to represent a dead infant – dozens of them were laid out on the ground in the city centre.
Pro-Palestine march in Derry on Saturday. Pic by Martin McKeown.
The star of the hit Channel 4 comedy series also carried a Palestinian flag during one of many marches which took place in 30 countries around the world.
It comes after local People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin urged the Irish government to back South Africa's case against Israel at the United Nations' International Court of Justice (ICJ) which formally accuses Israel of committing war crimes.
A final judgement could take years, however South Africa is pursuing an emergency order meaning an interim sentence could be reached in weeks.
Mr Harkin said: "Israel has used terror to drive Palestinians from their homes - and is using terror now to drive Palestinians out of Gaza.
"Israel must be held accountable for its barbaric actions in Gaza.”
Israel has denied the claims and accused South Africa of ignoring the Hamas terror attack on October 7, 2023 during which 1,200 people were murdered. Another 240 were kidnapped and held as hostages.
Meanwhile Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald addressed thousands of protesters who took to the streets of London telling the crowd that Palestinian freedom is possible.
"When I say this, standing in London, in common cause with you, (having) walked our own journey out of conflict, building peace for 25 years, this can happen," she said.
"This must happen and we will ensure that it does."
Pro-Palestine march in Derry on Saturday. Pic by Martin McKeown.
Thousands of people also marched through Dublin city centre making their way from the Garden of Remembrance along O'Connell Street to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Fiona Sullivan and Geraldine Lee travelled from Belfast to take part.
"It's an absolute disgrace what's going, the world needs to show that we're not going to accept it,” Ms Sullivan said.
"This is the little that we can do to show the people of Gaza and Palestine that the Irish people are 100% behind them whether our government is behind them or not - we are."
Ms Lee added: "They're not in line with the public at all. The public have completely different ideas.
"The Government must not watch anything or see the children dying in Palestine. They don't understand what's going on - I can't sleep thinking about it."
Demonstrators carried placards criticising the Irish, US and Israeli governments as many chanted "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free".
They demanded a ceasefire in Gaza, the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador to Ireland, and for the Irish government to support South Africa's case at the ICJ.
Ireland's main opposition parties, including Sinn Fein, Labour and the Social Democrats, have called on the Government to endorse South Africa's action.
But Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the Government does not intend to join the case.
Actress Jamie-Lee O’Donnell joins pro-Palestine march in Derry on Saturday. Pic by Martin McKeown.
Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign spokesperson Betty Purcell hailed the “biggest” demonstration held so far.
"We need a ceasefire now but most of all we want to call out the Irish Government for its disgraceful refusal to support the South African case at the ICJ," she said.
"They don't speak for the Irish people, not by any means."
More than 30 Palestinians, including children, were killed in two Israeli air strikes overnight into Saturday in the Gaza Strip.
Video provided by Gaza's civil defence department showed rescue workers searching through the rubble of a home in Gaza City by flashlight early on Saturday after it was hit by an Israeli attack.
The footage also showed a young girl wrapped in blankets with injuries to her face and at least two other children who appeared dead.
A boy covered in dust winced as he was loaded into an ambulance.
According to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, 23,843 Palestinians have died in the conflict.
Derry Girls star Jamie-Lee O’Donnell joined hundreds of Pro-Palestine protestors in the Maiden City during an international day of action.
Saturday’s rally was organised by the Derry Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (DIPSC) which is calling for the "immediate end to the Israeli war on Gaza".
The actress joined demonstrators who retraced the steps of the historic civil rights route of 1968 from the Waterside to the Guildhall.
Some of those taking part carried a banner which read “end genocide in Gaza now”.
O’Donnell was carrying a baby doll wrapped in a white cloth to represent a dead infant – dozens of them were laid out on the ground in the city centre.
Pro-Palestine march in Derry on Saturday. Pic by Martin McKeown.
The star of the hit Channel 4 comedy series also carried a Palestinian flag during one of many marches which took place in 30 countries around the world.
It comes after local People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin urged the Irish government to back South Africa's case against Israel at the United Nations' International Court of Justice (ICJ) which formally accuses Israel of committing war crimes.
A final judgement could take years, however South Africa is pursuing an emergency order meaning an interim sentence could be reached in weeks.
Mr Harkin said: "Israel has used terror to drive Palestinians from their homes - and is using terror now to drive Palestinians out of Gaza.
"Israel must be held accountable for its barbaric actions in Gaza.”
Israel has denied the claims and accused South Africa of ignoring the Hamas terror attack on October 7, 2023 during which 1,200 people were murdered. Another 240 were kidnapped and held as hostages.
Meanwhile Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald addressed thousands of protesters who took to the streets of London telling the crowd that Palestinian freedom is possible.
"When I say this, standing in London, in common cause with you, (having) walked our own journey out of conflict, building peace for 25 years, this can happen," she said.
"This must happen and we will ensure that it does."
Pro-Palestine march in Derry on Saturday. Pic by Martin McKeown.
Thousands of people also marched through Dublin city centre making their way from the Garden of Remembrance along O'Connell Street to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Fiona Sullivan and Geraldine Lee travelled from Belfast to take part.
"It's an absolute disgrace what's going, the world needs to show that we're not going to accept it,” Ms Sullivan said.
"This is the little that we can do to show the people of Gaza and Palestine that the Irish people are 100% behind them whether our government is behind them or not - we are."
Ms Lee added: "They're not in line with the public at all. The public have completely different ideas.
"The Government must not watch anything or see the children dying in Palestine. They don't understand what's going on - I can't sleep thinking about it."
Demonstrators carried placards criticising the Irish, US and Israeli governments as many chanted "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free".
They demanded a ceasefire in Gaza, the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador to Ireland, and for the Irish government to support South Africa's case at the ICJ.
Ireland's main opposition parties, including Sinn Fein, Labour and the Social Democrats, have called on the Government to endorse South Africa's action.
But Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the Government does not intend to join the case.
Actress Jamie-Lee O’Donnell joins pro-Palestine march in Derry on Saturday. Pic by Martin McKeown.
Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign spokesperson Betty Purcell hailed the “biggest” demonstration held so far.
"We need a ceasefire now but most of all we want to call out the Irish Government for its disgraceful refusal to support the South African case at the ICJ," she said.
"They don't speak for the Irish people, not by any means."
More than 30 Palestinians, including children, were killed in two Israeli air strikes overnight into Saturday in the Gaza Strip.
Video provided by Gaza's civil defence department showed rescue workers searching through the rubble of a home in Gaza City by flashlight early on Saturday after it was hit by an Israeli attack.
The footage also showed a young girl wrapped in blankets with injuries to her face and at least two other children who appeared dead.
A boy covered in dust winced as he was loaded into an ambulance.
According to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, 23,843 Palestinians have died in the conflict.
No comments:
Post a Comment