Thousands march in Dublin against slaughter in Gaza

dublin | rights and freedoms | news report Sunday January 04, 2009 20:37 by Kev - IPSC (pers cap) info at ipsc dot ie

Today up to 3,000 people march in Dublin in solidarity with the people of Gaza who have suffered a week of Israeli air-strikes that have killed over 430 people and left over 2,000 injured, and who now face the threat of a full scale ground invasion. The protest called for an immediate end to Israeli attacks and war crimes, and an end to the criminal siege on Gaza. During the course of the protest news came via a link up to Gaza that the Israeli military had begun firing artillery along the Gaza border. The protest was loud, colourful and angry.

L-R (as far as I'm aware): Patrician McKeown (ICTU), Patrick Comerford (CND), Mary Lou McDonald (SF), Ricahrd Boyd Barrett (SWP/IAWM), Mairead Corrigan Maguire, Joe Higgins (SP)

The demonstration began at the Central Bank Plaza where protestors gathered to hear speeches from Freda Hughes (IPSC), Philip O'Connor (IPSC), Dr. Bassam Nassar (Palestinian Community), Patricia McKeown (ICTU President) and Ahmed Al-Habash (Palestinians in Ireland).

The protest then moved on to the Dail where there were speeches by Bronagh Maher (Greens) Joe Higgins (Socialist Party), Richard Boyd Barrett (Irish Anti War Movement) and Mary Lou McDonald MEP (Sinn Fein), as well as a live phone link up to an eyewitness in Gaza and a read statement by Michael D Higgins TD (Labour). There were calls for the Irish Government to take a leading role in suspending Israel from the Euro Med Agreement.

The march then passed the EU Offices on Molesworth street where the demonstrators called for the EU to stop supporting the Israeli siege on Gaza and to implement sanctions against Israel.

When the march reached O'Connell Bridge there was a die-in and Palestinian flag drop off O'Connell Bridge.

Finally the crowd gathered at the Spire on O'Connell Street where there was a further live phone-link up with Gazan journalist Sami Abu Salem. There were further speeches by the Rev. Partrick Comerford (President of CND), Mairead Corrigan Maguire (Nobel Peace Laureate), Dr. Zille Umar Qadri (Muslim community of Ireland), Adnan Shabab (Palestinian Deleagtion of Irealnd) and the protest was brought to a close with spirited chanting by Rizq Abu Rideh (Palestinian Rights Institute).

IPSC Spokesperson Philip O'Connor said: "We condemn the Israeli massacres in Gaza and call for an immediate end to the bombardment. We call on Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin, to insist in the EU Council of Ministers on the suspension of the EU trade agreement with Israel under Clause 2 of the Association Agreement. We call on all Irish parliamentarians to stand by their illegally imprisoned colleagues in Palestine."

Mr. O'Connor continued: "We demand that the UN ensure the opening of the borders to Gaza to enable emergency humanitarian aid into the area, regardless of the bullying and ruthless threats by Israel. We call on the Irish people to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people, and to bring about a total economic, cultural, sporting, academic and diplomatic boycott of the Israeli state until it complies with international law. Finally we seek a solution in Palestine which respects the rights of Israelis and Palestinians, and secures for Palestinians their national and democratic rights. Only then will there be a settlement."

On behalf of the IPSC, Freda Hughes expressed our condolences with the family and friends of the late Tony Gregory TD who was a steadfast friend of both the Palestinian people and the IPSC.

Panorama of the march (Dame St / Westmoreland St)

ICTU Trade Union Friends of Palestine

Philip O'Connor and Freda Hughes (IPSC)

Gathering at the Central Bank