'Ceasefire now': Emergency vigil takes place in Cork for people of Rafah

AN emergency vigil took place in Cork city centre this evening in response to the violence in Rafah.

The vigil, titled ‘All Eyes on Rafah’, was organised by local activists from both Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Cork Rebels for Peace and took place on Grand Parade.

Organisers had encouraged attendees to bring candles as a symbol of hope and remembrance for the victims.

The vigil was organised to draw attention to the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza and to honour the lives lost in the recent attacks.

In a statement to The Echo, Cork Rebels for Peace said they “abhor the violence that Israel is carrying out in Rafah”.

“This violence is being perpetrated on a civilian population of mostly children. It is barbaric and wrong to enact such cruelty and violence on civilians.

“And while Israel will tell us they must enact such cruelty because Hamas fighters live amongst the civilian population, it is never appropriate to punish an entire people for the actions of the few,” the group said.

Cork Rebels for Peace said it also wished to “emphasise the importance of global attention and action” to bring about an end to the conflict. 

“In the words of Mother Jones, ‘Remember the dead but fight like hell for the living’.

“Cork Rebels for Peace are for human rights, for the rule of law, and for peace.

“Ceasefire, sanctions, expulsions, and the occupied territories bill, now.” 

Taoiseach Simon Harris said on Monday that sanctions on Israel should not be “off the table”, as he accused the nation’s officials of ignoring international courts. It comes after an attack on Rafah in which dozens of people were killed at a camp for displaced people.

It followed a Hamas rocket attack on Tel Aviv.

Last week, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to halt its offensive in Rafah.

The Taoiseach condemned the attack in Rafah as “absolutely unimaginable and unconscionable”.

He told Ireland AM: “In relation to sanctions, I don’t think anything can be off the table when it comes to Israel, particularly with what we’re seeing currently happening in Rafah now, when we’re seeing the international community being ignored, when we’re seeing international courts being ignored.” 

Mr Harris said Ireland would intensify its calls for trade arrangements between Israel and the EU to be “reviewed”.

Ireland, Norway and Spain will formally recognise Palestinian statehood on Tuesday.