Thousands rally in Cork and Dublin calling for end to war in Gaza

In Cork, the Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign (CPSC) said around 1,000 people took part in its rally, its 10th and largest such rally since the war started in October.

The rallies come amid growing international concern about the Israeli operation in Gaza.

The offensive, triggered by the unprecedented October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, has flattened much of northern Gaza and driven 85% of its population of 2.3m from their homes, triggering a spiralling humanitarian crisis.

The US, Israel's closest ally, has expressed unease over Israel's failure to reduce civilian casualties and its plans for the future of Gaza, but the White House continues to offer wholehearted support with weapons' shipments and diplomatic backing.

The  administration of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration is also facing public anger, after Israeli troops on Friday mistakenly shot dead three hostages.

At the rally in Cork today, children carried white kites in honour of the Palestinian poet, Reefat Alareer, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike earlier this month.

Before his death, Dr Alareer posted a poem online asking people, if he was killed, to fly white kites so that children in Gaza could see them and think of an “angel bringing back love”.

The rally ended with a symbolic die-in, as participants lay on the pavement on the Grand Parade in a visual demonstration of the thousands of children, women and men who have been killed in Gaza since October.

Audio recordings from the bombardment of Gaza were played during the die-in.

Martin Shiel, co-chair of the CPSC, said that the protestors are appalled by the war and vehemently oppose America’s funding and supply of weapons to Israel.

“From the moment Israel commenced its bombardment of Gaza we’ve been told that President Biden, though publicly supportive of Israel’s war, has been privately counselling against its continuation,” he said.

“But America’s veto of the two United Nations motions calling for a ceasefire makes it clear that Biden and the US will back Israel in its devastating war until the bitter end.” 

Mr Shiel was also critical of the EU for failing to call for a ceasefire at the leaders meeting in Brussels this week.

“The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says the EU has lost credibility for failing to call for a ceasefire,” he said.

“But seven weeks ago, Mr Varadkar declared himself satisfied with the EU’s call for pauses rather than a ceasefire.

“We don't consider that to be credible. Worse still, the Taoiseach fails to make the connection between Israel’s continued onslaught and the US financial and military support that sustains it.

“At the Brussels summit, Mr Varadkar proclaimed both the EU and US to be two towers of freedom and democracy in the world, even though the US is arming Israel and the EU is doing nothing to stop the war.” 

Mr Shiel called on the Government to “go beyond words, and take meaningful action against Israel”.

A rally for Palestine has taken place in Cork City every Saturday since October 14.

Several smaller demonstrations, vigils and fundraisers in solidarity with the people of Gaza have also been taking place around the county including in Ballincollig, Bandon, Bantry, Carrigaline, Clonakilty, Cobh, Mallow and Skibbereen.

The Palestinian flag was also flown over Cork City Hall last month on the United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.