Protesters rally for Gaza at Department of Foreign Affairs after severe wave of Israeli attacks

Dozens of people gathered for a protest outside the Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday following Israel's deadly overnight attacks on Gaza.

The "Ceasefire? What Ceasefire?" protest was organised by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) to demand action from the Irish government.

Speakers included multiple IPSC activists as well as Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne and Irish-Palestinian researcher Zak Hania, who was trapped in Gaza for seven months last year.

Rory Hearne TD speaking at the protest for Palestine outside the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin on October 29, 2025. Photo: Patrik Meier/hotpress.com

The protest came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to carry out "powerful" strikes on Gaza City on October 28, despite the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas signed over two weeks prior.

The subsequent attacks killed at least 104 Palestinians, including 46 children, and wounded at least 253, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza.

IPSC media coordinator Betty Purcell was among the speakers. She told Hot Press the protest was planned weeks ahead, but Tuesday night's attacks brought renewed urgency.

"It was in the works anyway because we've been watching what's been going on over the last three weeks where there have been breaches of the ceasefire every single day, but last night was the most egregious and vicious of all," Purcell said.

"It's clear Israel has absolutely no intention of maintaining this ceasefire and the reason behind that is very clear. They want to clear Gaza. They want to make it unlivable for the Gazan people, and they want to take over the land. It's all about land grabbing. The same thing is happening in the West Bank, where they are making it unlivable for farmers."

Purcell recounted her trip to the West Bank ten years ago as part of an international initiative to assist Palestinian farmers with the olive harvest. She said she has been an activist for Palestine ever since.

"That was well before the attacks on October 7, 2023, and Palestinian farmers were afraid to harvest their own olives back then without internationals being present to help," Purcell said.

Betty Purcell speaking at the protest for Palestine outside the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin on October 29, 2025. Photo: Patrik Meier/hotpress.com

Another activist in attendance was Dr Angy Skuce, Dublin-based GP and member of Irish Healthcare Workers for Palestine. Skuce, who came to the protest immediately after her shift, said she felt "ethically obliged" to join protests.

"As a doctor, as a mother and as a human being, I cannot watch this happening and not do everything I can to make it stop," Skuce said.

"The week after the October attacks, two years ago, I stood outside the Israeli embassy with a placard saying, 'Stop the killing.' People stopped and gave out to me, saying, 'I hope you mean both sides,' and I do mean both sides. Everything that's happening in that war is wrong. And right now, we are seeing a sick country that is being occupied and bombed. We have never seen such cruelty as we're seeing in Gaza now."

Protest for Palestine outside the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin on October 29, 2025. Photo: Patrik Meier/hotpress.com

Skuce added she and her fellow healthcare workers have a particular moral incentive to engage in protest.

"As health care workers, our whole reason for being is to help people towards better health, and there are a lot of things that we can do to influence the government to stop the cruelty," Skuce said.

"One thing is speaking up for our colleagues who have been captured and taken into illegal detention. We need to speak out for them so that the world doesn't forget them."

Skuce also urged Irish healthcare workers to speak up for their Palestinian counterparts "so the world doesn't forget them." As of October 22, 95 Palestinian healthcare workers are in Israeli detention, many — such as paediatrician Dr Hussam Abu Safiya — without charge.

Skuce also recommended healthcare workers avoid prescribing medications or using equipment made by pro-Israel companies.

"I would like all healthcare workers in Ireland to know the government supports our right as individuals to boycott on human rights principles, and nobody should be bullied by management or made afraid that they are not allowed to boycott," Skuce said.

Purcell said the Irish people are especially vocal in their advocacy, citing Catherine Connolly's recent landslide win in the Irish presidential race.

Protest for Palestine outside the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin on October 29, 2025. Photo: Patrik Meier/hotpress.com

Purcell said Connolly "speaks truth to power and is on the side of the Palestinians" and suggested her vocal advocacy "is the main reason why she was elected."

"It's the people — the aid by the people, the protests by the people, the pressure by the people, the boycotts by the people — which have made the difference in terms of putting pressure on Israel," Purcell said.

Fiarchra Mac Róibín, a Dublin-based student and bassist for shoegaze band Earthmover, said Ireland "has a very strong voice in the international community" on the matter and urged the politicians in the Department of Foreign Affairs to speak out.

"Ireland has the power to challenge Israel in matters of international law," Mac Róibín said.

"To the people who work in that building, I'd say to use that power and try to enact something that will really make a difference. You can't sit idly by as representatives of our country."

Protest for Palestine outside the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin on October 29, 2025. Photo: Patrik Meier/hotpress.com

Mac Róibín said it has been the younger generation who has been particularly successful in spearheading activism.

"Young people are the new generation of protest and I think we have the power to bring about the change we're trying to see," Mac Róibín said.

As a musician, Mac Róibín said he views art as a "powerful tool" in protest to "bring life to causes such as this."

"It's a universal language," Mac Róibín said.

"Lots of Palestinian artists are doing great things by sharing their music and with it, their views and experiences, and bringing the light to what's happening in Gaza."

Purcell emphasised the power of Irish musicians in protest, citing the success of IPSC's artist boycott campaign.

"So many Irish artists, the very best of the cream of our crop, have been boycotting Israel for a long time," Purcell said.

Protest for Palestine outside the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin on October 29, 2025. Photo: Patrik Meier/hotpress.com

In 2010, IPSC launched the "Irish Artists’ Pledge to Boycott Israel", a promise not to perform in Israel or accept funding from any institution linked to the Israeli government.

The pledge has now been signed by over 2,000 artists, including all members of KNEECAP and Fontaines D.C., as well as CMAT, Damien Dempsey, Mary Black and more.

"I remember back to Sinéad O'Connor," Purcell said.

"She came out very honestly and said she was broke at the time when she was offered 10 her normal fee to go perform in Tel Aviv, but she wouldn't do it. She led the way for many other artists — Christy Moore, Stephen Ray, all of the greats — who have all been there for a free Palestine."

Mac Róibín commended the Irish artists who participate in boycotts, saying, "It's vital not to compromise on your morality. Like, it's some money versus speaking about what's right and keeping true to yourself. One side is obviously more important."

Protest for Palestine outside the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin on October 29, 2025. Photo: Patrik Meier/hotpress.com

Purcell said the next protest organised by IPSC will be on Saturday, November 1 at RTÉ headquarters, urging the Irish broadcaster to stand by its promise not to take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is allowed to participate.

"The EBU can make the decision if they want an inclusive Eurovision," Purcell said.

"It's very simple: exclude Israel, and everyone will turn up and everyone will have a fine time. That's what we would like."

When asked about the opportunity for protest on the stage of Eurovision —  such as previous Irish entrant Bambie Thug, whose stage makeup featured the words "Ceasefire" and "Freedom for Palestine" written in ogham script — Purcell said that while well-intentioned, they would still be participating in "an artwash for Israel's genocide" and are "not something that we would recommend."

The next protest is planned for 12:30 p.m. on November 1 outside RTÉ's Donnybrook offices.

 

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