The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign has called an Emergency Protest & Rally in solidarity with the Palestinian people, especially those currently being bombarded in Gaza. It will take place this Saturday 12th July at 2pm at The Spire on O'Connell Street, Dublin 1. The rally has been called in response to Israel’s fresh assault on the Palestinian people which has been termed ‘Operation Protective Edge’. At least 82 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the assault officially began on Tuesday 8th July, the majority of them civilians according to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights. Amongst the dead are at least twenty one children, the youngest of which was just eighteen months old. Two of Israel’s deadliest attacks targeted two family homes in Gaza killing eight people on each occasion. The deliberate targeting of a civilian population amounts to collective punishment and is illegal under international law. Prior to the escalation of the assault on Gaza, attacks had also been taking place in the West Bank and Gaza where at least 12 people were killed and at least 600 detained by Israeli occupation forces. Some two hundred of these remain in custody without charge. IPSC Media Spokesperson Freda Hughes said, “We condemn the actions of the Israeli state which are disproportionate and amount to collective punishment of a captive population. The impunity which the international community consistently bestows upon the Israeli state ensures many more innocent Palestinian lives will be lost. The Irish government must demand that Israel be suspended from the Euro-Med Agreement until it complies with international law and respects human rights, as it is obliged to under Article 2 of that agreement. The Irish government should also join the chorus of voices from international civil society demanding an arms embargo on the Israeli state.” Ms Hughes continued, “We urge the Irish government and the EU to work to pressure Israel to both immediately cease its bombing and aggression against the Palestinian people of Gaza, and to work towards a ceasefire agreement with Palestinian armed groups.” The rally on Saturday is supported by Trade Union Friends of Palestine, the Irish Anti-War Movement, Gaza Action Ireland, TEEU (The Power Union) and Academics for Palestine.
Gaza Protest planned for Saturday in Dublin
