Two people arrested after barricade broken by Pro-Palestinian protesters

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

Two people have been arrested after a Garda barricade was broken by pro-Palestinian protesters at the Port Tunnel in Dublin.

Pepper spray was used during the public order incident in East Wall after protesters attempted to barge past Gardaí to enter the tunnel.

Both are being detained for public order offences and have been brought to garda stations in the Dublin area.

Members of the Garda National Public Order Unit, dressed in ’soft cap’ uniform, were called to the scene, but no one has been injured.

The protest is now over, and gardaí say traffic flow is returning to normal.

It comes as earlier on Saturday, thousands of people took part in a pro-Palestinian rally in Dublin.

Organisers said the protest marks “two years of genocide in Gaza” and called on the Government to sanction Israel.

It is the 17th such demonstration convened by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC), which has seen tens of thousands of people gather in the streets of the capital over the last two years.

Saturday’s march was held between the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square and was due to terminate at Leinster House for a series of speeches.

The rally, which began shortly after a Storm Amy-related weather warning lapsed, was also set to feature musical performances.

The Irish Government is barely lifting a finger to end Ireland's deep complicity in this genocide

Participants, including left-wing political groups and trade unions, held banners and waved Palestinian flags.

The protest came after 16 Irish citizens were among hundreds detained by Israel after it intercepted the global sumud flotilla, which was carrying aid to Gaza.

Speaking ahead of the protest, IPSC chairwoman Zoe Lawlor said there had been a “savage food and aid blockade for months” into Gaza, while local health officials reported 66,000 deaths in the enclave.

She also criticised the Government, including the Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister, Simon Harris.

Ms Lawlor said: “Between 50 and 100 people are still being killed every day, and more than 100 more Palestinians were murdered over the past 24 hours.

“We have also seen the illegal interception of the global sumud flotilla in international waters and the detention of hundreds of activists, including many Irish citizens, trying to deliver aid to Gaza.

“The response of Western powers has been to keep sending guns, bombs, and tech to murder Palestinians.

“Sadly, Ireland is little different. Simon Harris has called Israel’s actions ‘genocide’, ‘unconscionable’ and ‘unacceptable’ — yet the Irish Government is barely lifting a finger to end Ireland’s deep complicity in this genocide.”

The IPSC is also calling on the Government to enact an Occupied Territories Bill, which would ban both trade and services with illegal Israeli settlements.

Earlier, protesters called for the GAA to end its sponsorship arrangement with Allianz.

While the GAA held a special congress at Croke Park, around 50 people took part in a demonstration outside the Hogan Stand entrance.

Dubs for Palestine and Gaels against Genocide in Gaza said the GAA hierarchy had received correspondence asking the organisation to end Allianz’s long-term sponsorship of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.

The groups say the insurance firm had ties to companies that were enabling Israel’s war in Gaza.

They criticised the GAA for a lack of response to their concerns and also expressed disappointment that the matter was not up for a vote at the special congress.

The GAA was accused of selling Irish culture and heritage, as the recent hosting of an NFL game at Croke Park was also criticised.

Allianz and the GAA have been contacted for comment.