Hundreds march in Cork in demonstration organised by Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign
People attending the Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign rally for Palestine on the Grand Parade, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan
Hundreds of people took to the streets of Cork city on Saturday to take part in a march and rally organised by the Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign (CPSC).
The march, the twelfth such event in recent weeks, focused on the theme “unmute Gaza” and urged people to speak up and act for Gaza.
A spokesperson for the CPSC said that the march was organised to make a clear demand to the Irish Government to place sanctions on Israel and to pass the Occupied Territories Bill.
They estimate that 800 people took part in yesterday's event.
Speaking at the march in Cork city centre, Martin Shiel, Co-Chair of Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign called for the implementation of the Occupied Territories Bill.
"It is action that is required now to stop Israel.
"Micheál Martin said last Thursday that sanctions greater than travel bans on settler extremists are required. That is correct. And he has the Occupied Territories Bill, which he was happy for his party to support before being in government, ready to go.
“Cork City Council unanimously voted for implementation of the Occupied Territories Bill in October 2022. Further delays are unacceptable - the Tanáiste must implement the Occupied Territories Bill now.”
He added: “And it is not the only measure that he has to hand. A motion to recognise the State of Palestine was passed by the Dáil and Seanad in 2014. In November Cork City Council unanimously called for this to be enacted. Mr. Martin has said that this should only be done at the 'optimal time'. Surely there is no better time than now when Israel is pursuing a plan to erase Palestine.”
A number of other solidarity events are taking place in Cork this weekend.
In Clonakilty, a candlelit vigil place took place in Astna Square yesterday evening.
The CPSC said that more than 30 New Year’s Eve vigils for Palestine will take place in different locations across the country today including vigils in Bandon (5pm, Old TSB building), Carrigaline (3.30pm, next to Supervalu) and Cobh (5pm, The Promenade).
Details of the vigils are available from https://www.ipsc.ie/
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