Dublin pro-Palestinian protest ‘biggest one yet’

THOUSANDS of people marched through Dublin city centre yesterday in a protest against Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

Pro-Palestinian protesters left the Garden of Remembrance at around 1.30pm and marched along O’Connell Street before arriving outside the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Protesters waved Palestinian flags and held placards critical of the Irish, US and Israeli governments. They accused Israel of committing genocide as they chanted ‘free, free Palestine’ and ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’.

Participants variously called for a ceasefire in Gaza, the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador to Ireland, and for the Irish Government to support South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) alleging that Israel is committing genocide.

It is almost 100 days since Hamas gunmen launched an assault on Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7, killing 1,200 and taking about 240 hostages, to which Israeli military responded with air strikes and a ground offensive on Palestinian territory.

Gaza’s Ministry of Health says at least 23,357 people were killed up to January 10. Opposition parties, including Sinn Féin, Labour and the Social Democrats, have called on the Government to endorse South Africa’s action.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the Government does not intend to join the case.

The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which organised the rally, said it was part of an international day of action calling for an end to Israel’s operations in Gaza. The march was endorsed by many Irish civil society organisations, including trade unions and polical parties.

Spokeswoman Betty Purcell said: ‘It’s a huge demonstration, the biggest we’ve had so far. We need a ceasefire now but most of all we want to call out the Irish Government for its disgraceful refusal to support the South African case at the ICJ. They don’t speak for the Irish people, not by any means.’