The Inishowen branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign organised a demonstration in Carndonagh last Friday seeking action from Donegal Minister of State Charlie McConalogue to support the enactment of the Occupied Territories Bill.
Donegal IPSC marked “99 days of inaction” by protesting outside Minister McConalogue’s office with signs and symbolic demonstrations, including holding up red hands symbolising the hands of the government.
Campaigners want the government to immediately enact the Occupied Territories Bill to ban trade between Ireland and Israel’s settlements in the West Bank and to make urgent progress on the Arms Embargo Bill.
2nd May: The Inishowen branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign protest in Carndonagh. Photo by Bettina Linke
A letter written to Minister McConalogue by the Donegal IPSC urges him to use his position to encourage Fianna Fáil to uphold its pre-election commitment on the Occupied Territories Bill.
“The people of Donegal have stood in solidarity with the Palestinians and their right to seek justice and live in peace, free of occupation and apartheid,” campaigners said.
“Before the general election, the outgoing government committed to passing the Occupied Territories Bill (OTB) as a priority if re-elected. Now, to our dismay, it appears that there are attempts to delay and weaken, even undermine, the Bill.”
2nd May: The Inishowen branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign protest in Carndonagh. Photo by Bettina Linke
Photo by Bettina Linke
Campaigners held a minutes’ silence on Friday to mourn the loss of over 60,000 civilians in Gaza, the majority of which are women and children.
They said: “We banged empty pots and pans to highlight the forced starvation policy that the people in Gaza suffer and are now dying from in increasing numbers since the total blockade by Israel of all aid, food, clean water, and medicine for 60 days ago now.”
“We urge everyone to hold our politicians accountable and demand urgent and effective action, honour the obligations under International Law. Pass the Occupied Territories Bill Now in full as a first step. We ended our letter to Minister McConalogue thus: ‘We are calling on you, Minister McConalogue to make our voice, that of your constituents, heard in the Dáil and express our utter outrage at the Government not holding Israel accountable.'”
2nd May: The Inishowen branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign protest in Carndonagh. Photo by Bettina Linke
2nd May: The Inishowen branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign protest in Carndonagh. Photo by Bettina Linke
