Video & Photos – Dublin ‘die-in’ urges Irish Government to act against Israel’s Gaza blitz

THE IRISH GOVERNMENT should expel the Israeli Ambassador, push for the suspension of Israel’s trading status with the EU and help broker a ceasefire that lifts the blockade of Gaza, a Dublin ‘die-in’ demonstration was told on Wednesday evening.

The demonstration saw a large crowd of Palestinians and Irish supporters lie down ‘dead’, first in front of the Department of Foreign Affairs and then again at the top of Grafton Street, while holding pages bearing the names of the dead in Gaza.

Yaser Alashqar, whose sister’s family are seeking shelter in Gaza after their home was shelled by Israeli forces, said:

“The UN has confirmed more than 2,000 homes damaged or destroyed: that’s 2,000 homeless families. There are at least 48,000 people living in UNRWA schools. Some 58,000 children in Gaza are in critical need of psychological support, but the facilities to give that support are being destroyed.

“The international community, including European governments, have to face up to their responsibility to stop these war crimes.”

Ireland rugby international Trevor Hogan, who visited Gaza last year, said:

“The world has looked away for far too long. Just today, the UN human rights chief Navi Pillay has finally admitted that Israel is probably committing war crimes in Gaza, including the deliberate destruction of civilian homes and the killing of children.”

The demonstration was called by Gaza Action Ireland (GAI) and supported by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Sadaka and the Palestinian community in Ireland.

When news came through to the crowd outside the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Irish Government’s abstention from a United Nations resolution setting up a commission of inquiry into accusations of Israeli war crimes in Gaza, it was met with incredulity, jeers and shouts of “shame” and “not in our name”.