More than 1,100 protestors take part in 27th weekly Cork rally in support of Palestine

More than 1,100 people turned out to hear Independent senator Frances Black address the 27th Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign (CPSC) demonstration in Cork city centre on Saturday.

Senator Black, a leading campaigner in Ireland for the enactment of the Occupied Territories Bill, condemned what she called “Israel's genocidal assault on Gaza”, and she called on the Irish Government to “take meaningful action to stand up for the principles of global solidarity, human rights, and international law.” 

Ms Black introduced the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill into the Oireachtas in 2018 but, though passed in 2019, it has not been sent for approval to the president.

The Bill seeks to prohibit the import and sale of goods, services and natural resources originating in illegal settlements in occupied territories.

In warm lunchtime sunshine approximately 900 people marched what is now a familiar route from the Grand Parade down Patrick’s Street, down Winthrop Street, up Oliver Plunkett Street and back to the Grand Parade.

Increased

By the time they had returned, their numbers had increased by at least 200.

Saturday’s rally marked the 27th week of the protests, which began on October 14.

Gaza has been under near constant bombardment from the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) in the months since, according to Israeli figures, Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people and abducted another 250 in a series of terrorist attacks against communities across southern Israel on October 7.

Since then, more than 34,000 people have been killed in Gaza, and more than 77,000 have been wounded, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, which does not differentiate civilian deaths and those of fighters, with most of the territory’s 2.3m people crammed into increasingly small areas in an effort to find safety in the tiny Palestinian enclave.

According to the UN, famine is currently “imminent” in Gaza.

New song

Before Saturday’s march, Cork singer-songwriter Martin Leahy, who this week marked his 100th week singing his song ‘Everyone Should Have A Home’ outside Leinster House, took to the stage to perform a new song.

He had written new lyrics to Israel’s Eurovision entry ‘Hurricane’, which had previously been called ‘October Rain’, before it was rewritten and re-named to remove references to the October 7 attacks.

Mr Leahy’s new lyrics have as a chorus the lines “They will never bury Palestine’.

Sinn Féin councillor for Cork City North West, Mick Nugent, said it was heartening to see such a great turnout on a sunny day.

“Senator Black’s key message is that there are a number of elections coming up, local and European elections and a general election within 12 months, and it needs to be a priority for the electorate who support Palestine to press politicians for action, particularly the enactment of the Occupied Territories Bill,” he said.

Dedicated

Shane Laird of People Before Profit said there was a core, dedicated group which attended the rallies.

“It’s refreshing that there is a group of people who turn out every week, depressing as it is that they need to turn out every week,” he said.

Speaking at the demonstration on Saturday, Martin Shiel, the CPSC co-chairperson, criticised Western powers for continuing to support Israel.

“By sending planes to help defend against Iran’s retaliatory attacks on Israel, the US and its close allies have shown that the West’s support for the Israeli regime remains fundamental. These are the two faces of imperialism, a genocide in Gaza and a war on Iran,” he said.