Solidarity rally with Palestine to be held
A rally in solidarity with the people of Palestine is to take place this Saturday 14 October, at 1pm, leaving from Daunt Square.
Last night, hundreds turned out to show their support at another solidarity rally which took place in the city.
The demonstration this weekend is scheduled in the aftermath of several days of intense clashes between Israeli forces and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, triggered by unexpected attacks launched by Hamas within Israel over the past weekend, including a mass shooting at a music festival.
An Irish-Israeli woman Kim Damti, died at the Re'im festival. The family of the 22 year old confirmed her death last night after she had been unaccounted since the weekend.
The Cork Jewish Community have issued a statement condemning “the violent attacks and abductions in Israel by Hamas this past weekend alongside all other acts of violence committed against innocent civilians”.
“We send our love, thoughts, and prayers to the families and friends of those who perished, and to those in Israel who are living in fear, unsure of their own safety and the safety of their loved ones,” it read.
“We also pray for the lives and wellbeing of the innocent Palestinians who are trapped in Gaza, living under dreadful circumstances, who are forced to abandon their homes in fear of their lives and those of their families.
It continued: “Most of all, we stand in unwavering solidarity with Jews in Israel and around the world, and all those have been directly or indirectly affected by this violence."
The upcoming Palestinian protest in Daunt Square condemns Western governments, “whose inaction has allowed this catastrophic situation to develop,” and has been backed by Sinn Féin Councillor Mick Nugent, who will be attending the event.
“It is important for the Government here in Ireland to see that many individuals support Palestinian human-rights and want policies, such as the Occupied Territories Bill, enacted, to give Palestinians a safe, normal future that includes peace with justice,” said the Cork Palestina Solidarity Campaign.
The ongoing violence in Israel and Gaza has already claimed the lives of more than 1,800 people.
Nedaa Yousef, a Ph.D. student in Law at UCC, who is originally from the West Bank in Palestine, spoke to the Cork Indpendent about the conflict.
“I recognise that I have the privilege of living in Ireland being safe from the war, but there are no words no describe how we feel,” she said.
“My friend’s family were killed. My family in the West Bank are living under curfew, they can’t go outside their house. They are scared for their lives, every Palestinian is in danger.
“My family lives in a village surrounded by settlements and they are worried that they could be attacked at any moment and they are defenceless. They have no army to protect them,” she added.
Nedda said the recent violence is a direct result of the colonisation of Palestine, which has been ignored for decades by the international community.
“What’s happened over the past few days, the root cause of that was continuous occupation. It’s really frustrating to read the media and see that they are in solidarity with Israel but they have forgotten that we have been suffering for so long.
“The western governments need to stop being complicit in their support of apartheid and recognise what is happening in Palestine.”
She says that she hopes that “people In Cork will show solidarity with the people of Gaza for justice and human rights”.