Hundreds take to Cork city streets for 95th weekly rally for Gaza
Hundreds took part in 95th rally for Gaza held in Cork city centre. Picture: Donal O'Keeffe
With the death toll in Gaza topping 60,400 on Saturday, around 300 protesters gathered in Cork city centre at lunchtime for the 95th such rally.
The city has seen a march for Palestine every Saturday afternoon since the latest iteration of the centuries old conflict was sparked by the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas-led militants, which saw 1,200 Israelis killed and 250 hostages taken.
According to the Hamas-controlled Gaza health ministry (GHM), at least 60,430 Palestinians have died in Israel’s war against Gaza.
Veteran human rights advocate Arthur Leahy, who was last month given the annual Spirit of Mother Jones award for his decades of dedication to social justice, said there was a growing sense of frustration amongst protesters.
“There is so little we can do in Ireland, we come out here for so many months, but it’s hugely frustrating that we have so little impact,” he said.
“Now, the Government is half-heartedly doing things that they should be doing, but with what’s happening now in Israel and Palestine, it needs a much, much stronger voice.”
Labour senator Laura Harmon said her party had been at every rally in the city centre and had been a strong voice for the people of Palestine.
“It’s very important that we keep speaking out for the people of Gaza, and it’s very important that our Government acts now in a meaningful way,” she said.
“We need the Occupied Territories Bill enacted now, with services included, as recommended by the Oireachtas foreign affairs committee.
Mick Nugent, former Sinn Féin councillor for the Cork city north-west ward, said there was a growing recognition internationally that Israel was "committing genocide” in Gaza.
“What we need now is international action, we need sanctions, we also need trading arrangements between the EU and Israel to be ripped up while this genocide is going on,” he said.
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