Demonstrators protest against Gaza blockade
Up to 1,000 people in Dublin city centre today demonstrated against Israel’s Gaza blockade.
They marched from the remembrance garden at Parnell Square to the Irish Foreign Affairs building.
Some people held up placards with the number nine in reference to the loss of nine lives when Israeli forces attacked an aid ship approaching the Palestinian territory last week.
Today’s march by trade unionists and other activists came hours after Israel boarded Irish relief vessel the Rachel Corrie around 30 miles from the disputed coastline.
Speaker Fintan Lane who was with the flotilla engaged by Israeli commandos on Monday, dismissed claims the Rachel Corrie had agreed to a boarding by Israeli forces this morning saying he believed instead that the ship was taken by force.
Representatives of the trade union movement said positive action was now needed as a result of Israeli action saying workers around the world were developing a boycott programme of Israeli goods that was now gathering momentum as a way of supporting the Palestinian people.
Around 250 people took part in a rally outside Belfast’s City Hall this afternoon in support of the aid workers who had been attempting to bring relief to Gaza.
Some carried Palestinian flags while others held posters condemning Israel and calling for a boycott of Israeli goods.
The rally was addressed by former MP and civil rights campaigner Bernadette McAliskey.
Among those in attendance was Gerry Kelly, the Sinn Féin Assembly member for North Belfast and junior Minister in the Northern Executive.
Some SDLP members were also among the crowd.
The former President of the Belfast Islamic Centre Jamal Iweida also addressed the rally.
