Over the weekend, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin called for a ceasefire in the Middle East, to allow humanitarian supplies into Gaza. "The suffering of innocent civilians, particularly children, is on a scale that requires an immediate cessation in our view,” he told RTÉ.

“The degree of suffering now – that innocent civilians are suffering,” the Tánaiste added, "is just not acceptable.”

Last Saturday, a major demonstration in support of the Palestinian people in Gaza took place in Dublin, making the same essential point. Thousands of people attended what was a powerful protest against the increasingly punitive violence being inflicted on civilians by the Israeli military, and the threat of genocide being committed against the Palestinian people.

The strained emotions were visible on people's faces during the march to Merrion Square. Muhannad was born in Syria but his mother is Palestinian. "I know people there,” he said. "They are dying. The world is watching. My heart is broken.’’ Majida is a Palestinian activist living in Dublin. In her speech, she said we have to continue to demand rights for the Palestinian people.

Thousands of voices called for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the re-instatement of water and electricity services, and for access to be allowed so that food and humanitarian aid can be provided in Gaza.

That process has now started – but the aid that has made it through the Rafah Crossing from Egypt has been described as just a tiny fraction of what is needed. On Thursday, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Gutteres called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to ease “the epic suffering." The problem, for those living amid the horrors of Gaza, is that time is running out.

Photos by Fellipe Lopes.