Palestine Solidarity Activists Protest the Israeli Kidnapping of 21 Human Rights Activists

Yesterday Wednesday 1st July around 100 Palestine solidarity activists gathered outside the GPO in Dublin to protest the kidnapping by Israel of 21 human rights activists from the Free Gaza Movement on Tuesday. Two of the abductees are Irish citizens, Nobel Laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire and Derek Graham, skipper of the Free Gaza boat ‘Spirit of Humanity’.

The protesters, at the rally organised by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC), were demanding the release of the abductees, the return of the confiscated humanitarian supplies, the release of the boat, a safe sea-passage to Gaza and that the brutal siege of Gaza be lifted.

IPSC spokesperson Freda Hughes, addressing the crowd, said: “The abduction of the 21 Free Gaza activists from international waters, 23 miles off the coast of Gaza, is an abhorrent breach of international law by the Israeli state. However, we must remember that despite this particular outrage, this is part of an ongoing brutal siege on Gaza, which in turn is merely one facet of Israel’s slow and deliberate ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.”

Ms Hughes continued: “The blatant lack of Irish media coverage of such a monumental event, which has a particular Irish context, is a disgrace and mirrors the general bias evident in the Irish media when it comes to the issue of the occupation of Palestine.”

Ms Hughes concluded: “In order for the Irish public to effect positive change in regard to the unjust occupation of Palestine, our most effective course of action is to adopt a policy of complete economic, cultural, sporting and academic boycott of Israel. The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign has been to the forefront of the campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions”.

Sinn Fein TD Aengus O Snodaigh, also addressing the protest, stated: “The piracy of the Israeli Navy in boarding the boat in international waters and towing it towards Israel is yet another astounding example of just how beyond reproach this administration believes it is.”

“Mr. O Snodaigh continued: “Israel needs to understand there are political and economic consequences for its crimes against Gaza and its people, and European leaders need to step up and make their voice heard. Slowly starving an entire nation, blocking medical, humanitarian and reconstruction aid is contrary to international and human rights and needs to be opposed. If nothing else this should be another signal to European leaders to immediately end all EU-Israeli trade agreements.”

The IPSC calls on the Irish government to do everything in their power secure the safe release of all the Free Gaza activists.

(Photos © Elena H)