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The Journal
09-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Dozens of Irish people among group set to march from Cairo to Gaza amid aid blockade
AROUND 50 IRISH people will take part in a march from Cairo to Gaza this month, demanding Israel fully open the Rafah crossing to allow humanitarian aid through. The delegation, which will join 2,500 other people from 60 countries, will walk through the desert for two days in hopes of drawing attention to Israel's ongoing siege of Gaza. They will meet in Cairo on 13 June and depart the next day for the Sinai Desert, where temperatures reach highs of 32 to 35 degrees Celsius at this time of year. They will camp there overnight. A number of healthcare workers are involved in the march. They will end their march at the Rafah crossing, where they will stay for another two days. Karen Moynihan, a spokesperson for March to Gaza Ireland, spoke to The Journal about the demonstration. 'It's not going to be the most pleasant conditions, but it doesn't matter if we think about what the people of Palestine have been living through every day for 19 months,' she said. 'The people of Ireland and the people of the world are not willing to sit by any longer and just wait.' She said Israel is committing an 'absolutely barabaric genocide' and Ireland has not taken sufficient action to stop it. The government recently voted against a Sinn Féin Bill that sought to stop the Irish Central Bank facilitating the sale of Israeli 'war bonds' across the EU. Advertisement Cabinet last month approved the drafting of the long-awaited Occupied Territories Bill, which will ban goods from the illegal settlements in Palestine. It is unclear when the Bill will be passed. 'Every government has an option and has a choice,' said Moynihan. 'The international community has not put any sanctions [on Israel], nothing of any significance. It's all been words.' The group is demonstrating in partnership with the Soumoud convoy, which comprises nine buses holding hundreds of Tunisians who say they want to break the blockade into Gaza. They departed today, hours after the Madleen 'Freedom Flotilla' was intercepted by Israel . A dozen people were on board the boat, including Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg. The group beginning their march later this week will join them in calling for food and medical supplies to flow freely by land and sea into Gaza. The United Nations has warned that Gaza's entire population of more than two million people is at risk of starvation. 'We have the power as an international community to change this immediately,' said Moynihan. March to Gaza says it has informed all the Egyptian embassies of its demonstration and has asked the Egyptian authorities for support. On whether she is concerned about the safety of participants, Moynihan said their demonstration is peaceful and non-political and the onus is on others to respect that. The health ministry in Gaza said that the overall toll for the war since 7 October has reached 54,880, the majority of the dead being civilians. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
09-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Opposition requests ‘vote of conscience' in calls to stop Central Bank's role in sale of Israeli Bonds
The Central Bank of Ireland is the designated authority in relation to the sale of Israel Bonds in the EU. Israel Bonds have been advertised as supporting the country's economy, and more recently, websites promoting the securities emphasise their role in supporting Israel's military operations in Gaza. The Central Bank is responsible for assessing whether a prospectus for the offer of securities is in compliance with requirements of the EU Prospectus Regulation, with the authority saying approval should not be viewed as "an endorsement of the issuer". Protesters have demonstrated outside the Central Bank and called for legislation that would give Ireland the power to refuse the sale of Israeli "war bonds" over human rights concerns. Last month, a Sinn Féin bill which would have imposed restrictions securities on behalf of Israel was defeated after the Government voted against the draft legislation. On Wednesday, the Dail will vote on a motion on the matter brought by a number of opposition parties during the Social Democrats' time. The motion says the bonds are intended to fund the war in Gaza and argues Ireland has an obligations under the Genocide Convention to use all means likely to have a deterrent effect on those suspected of preparing genocide. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Social Democrats TD Sinead Gibney said: "We have failed as an international community to prevent a genocide from happening so now we have to do everything in our power to make sure that we stop it." She added: "We are urging the Government to allow a free vote, a vote of conscience, because we believe that this is something that many TDs will support if given the opportunity. "And we absolutely urge the government to support this motion." Sinn Féin TD Sean Crowe said he believes the gap between the vote on the Sinn Féin Bill and this motion will given TDs "time to reflect". Meanwhile, Tanaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Harris called on Israel to lift a blockade on aid into Gaza. It comes after Israeli forces stopped a Gaza-bound aid boat and detained activists on board early on Monday, enforcing a longstanding blockade of the Palestinian territory. Mr Harris said the vessel was an "unarmed civilian effort" to get food and medicine to the "starving people of Gaza" in the midst of "devastation and catastrophic humanitarian conditions". He added: "The UN and humanitarian organisations must be allowed to work independently and do their job. "It is a shame on the world and international community that people are starving in Gaza.
