Muireann Duffy
Demonstrations in support of the people of Palestine are due to be held around Ireland this weekend.
Since last Saturday's surprise attack by militant group Hamas, Israel has blocked the entry of essentials to Gaza, such as food, water and medical supplies, and has also cut off electricity to the region.
Gaza has also been heavily bombed by Israeli forces over the past week, with the region's health ministry announcing on Friday that approximately 1,900 have been killed there.
🇵🇸 Amárach, join us tomorrow in Dublin at 1pm, the Spire to stand with the Palestinian people in Gaza who are under murderous, genocidal bombardment, siege and ethnic cleansing by apartheid Israel. #StopIsraeliGenocide pic.twitter.com/sSECBHZ1bD
— IPSC (@ipsc48) October 13, 2023
As a ground offensive looks increasingly likely, the Israeli government has ordered approximately one million civilians in northern Gaza to move southwards. The area in question includes Gaza City, with the United Nations warning that such a movement would cause huge human suffering, while many – including those wounded in the recent airstrikes – would likely be unable to relocate.
Speaking on Thursday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar urged Israel to open a humanitarian corridor to allow aid to reach civilians in Gaza.
He added that while Israel "has the right to defend itself", the country's response to the attack by Hamas amounts to collective punishment and a breach of humanitarian law.
This weekend's demonstrations in support of Palestine began on Friday evening, with rallies held in Naas, Navan and Wexford.
Eight further rallies are due to be held on Saturday, with Limerick, Cork, Galway, Ennis, Clones and Armagh among the locations.
In Dublin, demonstrators will gather at the Spire on O'Connell Street from 1pm and march to the Israeli Embassy in Ballsbridge.
On Sunday, Belfast's Writers' Square will also host a Pro-Palestine rally, in addition to Mullingar and Killarney.
