Opinion
01 Jun 10

Ireland Protests Against Israeli Raids on Aid Ships

Last night protests took place around Ireland in support of the Flotilla of ships that were attacked while trying to take to aid to Gaza on the morning of 31 May 2010. These protests saw Irish citizens join in solidarity with hundreds of thousands of protesters around the world.

In Dublin around 1700 protesters, including members of every political party, marched from O’Connell Street to the Israeli Embassy in Ballsbridge, loudly condemning the actions of the Israeli Defence Force, and calling for trade sanctions to be imposed on Israel, as well as for the removal of the Israeli Ambassador Dr. Zion Evrony from office, at least until this crisis is resolved.

The Dublin March was organised yesterday morning by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (www.ipsc.ie), who recruited a number of political speakers. Emer Costello, Mayor of Dublin, said that she had received many emails from the people of Dublin condemning Israel’s actions. Senator Mark Daly, and TDs Aengus O Snodaigh and Chris Andrews also spoke. Each man was supposed to be present on the flotilla but were refused places on the vessels, after the Israeli government apparently pressurised Cyprus where the flotilla sailed from.

Addressing the crowd Senator Daly drew comparisons between the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Troubles in Northern Ireland, stating that Irish people know the consequences of actions like those on 31 May better than any other people.

Also present were family members of two of the Irish citizens aboard the Mavi Marmara, which was boarded by Israeli commandos who were lowered on to its deck from helicopters. The wife of one of the men, told protesters that she had had no news of her husband, who suffers from both diabetes and a heart condition, and was not sure what to tell their four young children, who currently believe their father is on holiday.

Jack O’Connor, the leader of SIPTU also spoke at the rally, as did IPSC leader David Landy, who asked that people contact their TDs, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin, to ask them to pressurise Israel for information on the Irish Citizens involved, and to let the flotilla’s Irish Aid Boat, the Rachel Corrie, through. He also encouraged the government to impose sanctions on Israel for engendering an apartheid regime against the Palestinian people.

Belfast also saw around hundreds of protesters gather outside its City Hall. In Ennis, Co. Clare, a number of protesters gathered outside the constituency office of Defence Minister Tony Killeen. Protests were also held in other cities such as Limerick, Derry and Cork.

[Photo 1: courtesy of Bill Doran, Photo 2: courtesy of Sinead Dobbyn, with thanks]