Irish delegation call for public support of third flotilla to Gaza bringing aid and baby formula
As Israel's military attack on Palestinians in Gaza continues, activists from around the world are preparing for a third movement to Gaza by sea on board what they are hoping will amount to thousands of ships from across 80 countries.
As the deliberate starving of Palestinians continues, B'Tselem, the Israeli Information Centre for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories have released a report in which they accuse Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip through forced mass displacement, deliberate starvation and the 'total destruction of infrastructure needed for human existence.'
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Irish Independent
11 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Letters: Youth can be no excuse for those responsible for acts of violence on our streets
I am being asked by my friends in India about how safe Ireland is. Some of them were earlier asking if their children could come and study in Ireland, as it was considered safe. They were prepared to spend thousands of euro to send them for third-level education. Now I am in a dilemma. What can I say to them? My country, Ireland, is carrying a bad name. It is time to determine who is responsible for creating this environment of fear. The teens who are usually involved in such incidents get away because they are young. This does not excuse them, as they cause life-altering damage to a person's life. This affects at least five more lives who are dependent on them. How can the law be oblivious of the damage done to families on the excuse of the perpetrator being young? If there is any politics in it, the individuals need to be singled out and made to pay a price. In the US, the parents of such criminals are being punished for the damage their children do. Can that not be followed in Ireland? And how about treating such criminals as adults in Irish courts? Pradeep K Chadha, Castleknock, Dublin 15 Would ending Triple Lock mean Ireland was free to intervene in Palestine? Assuming the Triple Lock on our neutrality is eventually lifted, can we expect the Irish Government to send troops on humanitarian duties to ensure food gets into Gaza and people are protected? I mean, we would be free of the UN mandate and seeking its approval. Or would we require US-, UK- and EU-supporting Israel's approval to do the above? John Cuffe, Co Meath Who will pay to rebuild Gaza after the conflict is finally brought to an end? A recent commentator rightly underlines that 'recognition alone cannot substitute for immediate, concrete action that includes a ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access and accountability for atrocities'. ADVERTISEMENT This is the very minimum series of actions necessary to go towards the rebalancing of the appalling man-made humanitarian tragedy imposed on the Palestinian people by the state of Israel. But so much more needs to be done, inter alia – the imposition of sanctions on Israeli ministers, military personnel and officials responsible for war crimes; employment of all international mechanisms to bring the culprits to justice; and the ending of all preferential trade and service arrangements for Israel under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Finally, and crucially, to date I have heard no mention of war reparations for the deaths, destruction and dispossession suffered by the Palestinians. Who will have the courage to demand these compensations from Israel? Or will it be the EU, in the wake of its pathetic political inaction throughout the last two years, that will transfer vast sums of money for the rebuilding of Gaza, in an effort to salve its conscience and regain whatever little moral authority remains? Tom McGrath, Ashford, Co Wicklow Pope Leo has a chance to send a powerful message by visiting Middle East The Catholic Church has an opportunity to make a positive impact on the dire situation in Gaza. Shortly after his election, the late Pope Francis visited the island of Lampedusa and highlighted the indifference to migrants and asylum- seekers . A visit to Gaza by Pope Leo would have an equal impact on the dire situation of the Palestinian people as they die from bullets and starvation. Even if he got as far as the Rafah crossing, it would send out a powerful message to the people of Gaza that religion has no borders. Brendan Butler, Drumcondra, Dublin Pharma tariffs are a risk to Ireland, but it's consumers in US who will suffer most US president Donald Trump has announced that pharmaceutical tariffs could eventually reach up to 250pc. He referenced Ireland's strength in the pharmaceuticals sector in an interview on Tuesday. It seems Trump doesn't give a hoot about the ordinary American person as he considers such an extortionate tariff. Medical care in America is already outrageously expensive, and when you throw a possible 250pc on pharmaceuticals, the collateral damage of such a punitive tax will be felt by everyone. This latest threat certainly raises big questions for Ireland. It's reported that a deal between the EU and the US is getting closer. One is curious as to what the terms of such a deal will be. The pharmaceuticals and medtech sectors collectively employ over 70,000 people within the Industrial Development Agency (IDA) network. This includes both direct employment in manufacturing and indirect roles associated with the industry. The sector is a significant contributor to Ireland's economy, with pharmaceutical exports representing 39pc of the total. John O'Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary Thanks to my teacher for always encouraging his students to 'speak proper' On Pat Kenny's radio show last Monday, there was an item on the widespread misuse of grammar these days. For example: 'He was sat there.' I was lucky that in primary school we had a teacher who constantly reminded us of the importance of (as Gay Byrne used to preach) speaking proper. Mind you, as youngsters sat there, it would be years later when I would appreciate that teacher's dedication. A very belated thank you, sir. Tom Gilsenan, Beaumont, Dublin 9 All-Ireland final shows how Jim Gavin's changes have revitalised the game It was a pleasure to watch the recent All-Ireland football final contested by players displaying all the skills of the game. Thanks to Jim Gavin and all concerned for getting rid of the 'puke football' introduced way back in 2003 by Tyrone, and progressed to a more dreary and boring game by Donegal in 2012. Long may the game continue to progress with its skills of high fielding and long-range points from play.
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
‘They think this is their hope to overcome this miserable situation': Teaching students online in Gaza
A picture of a trench lined with sandbags is on the screen. Physics teacher Ayda Elsayed Ahmed (55) uses it to illustrate Newton's laws of motion – explaining the 'directions and the spaces', how 'force' can become 'less'. This example was already on the Palestinian physics curriculum long before the bombardment of Gaza , she says, but understanding it has perhaps taken on a new form of urgency for her students, trapped inside the blockaded enclave for close to two years now; desperate to learn, but also to survive. Before the Hamas-led attacks of October 7th, 2023, more than 625,000 students in Gaza and 22,000 teachers attended 815 schools in 564 buildings across the enclave, according to the Global Education Cluster, which comprises of representatives from many international NGOs and is steered by Unicef and Save the Children. In June this year, a UN Human Rights Council commission of inquiry found that Israel had 'used air strikes, burning and controlled demolitions to damage and destroy more than 90 per cent of the school and university buildings in Gaza, creating conditions where education for children, including adolescents, and the livelihood of teachers have been made impossible". READ MORE It said attacks on educational facilities had been war crimes, which included the killing of civilians sheltering in schools, and that 'Israeli soldiers recorded and distributed videos in which they mock Palestinians and Palestinian education, before destroying schools and universities'. This was 'indicative of the Israeli security forces' intent to destroy these facilities to curtail Palestinians' access to education in the long-term'. More than 658,000 children in Gaza have had no schooling for 20 months, the commission said. Israel says Hamas operates in civilian areas, with Binyamin Netanyahu's office last week saying Hamas 'openly uses civilians as human shields' and 'uses schools and kindergartens to store weapons'. [ Sally Hayden: Stranded fathers describe anguish over children in Gaza Opens in new window ] An ever-growing number of international lawyers and experts call what is happening in Gaza a genocide. More than 60,000 people have already been killed there, according to Gazan health authorities, including about 18,500 children. While ensuring access to education may seem secondary compared to mass killing, Palestinian teachers say Gazan students remain desperate to learn. In April 2024, a UN Human Rights Council panel of experts also said it may be 'reasonable to ask if there is an intentional effort to comprehensively destroy the Palestinian education system [in Gaza], an action known as 'scholasticide',' adding 'when schools are destroyed, so too are hopes and dreams'. Ayda Elsayed Ahmed (55) teaches physics to students inside Gaza and those displaced abroad. Photograph: Sally Hayden 'I have a responsibility to support them' Ahmed was first contacted by Gazan students through social media early last year. The physics teacher of 25 years is based in the city of Dura, in the occupied West Bank. She added the students to a WhatsApp group, saying she was willing to give them physics courses online. 'I was really affected by what's happening in Gaza. Some of my students contacted me and told me sad stories about their lives. They showed me their destroyed houses, and so I was emotionally affected and I started giving them psychological support before I started teaching them. I have a responsibility to support them, to help them to pass these miserable conditions,' she says, sitting on a sofa in her family home. Gaza is about 44km (27 miles) west of Ahmed's house, but the enclave is under a complete blockade. As she speaks, the sound of a warplane rumbles above followed by a distant explosion – they can sometimes hear the bombing of Gaza from the West Bank, Ahmed says. Most of her original students were Gazans displaced abroad: usually in Egypt, but also Russia, Norway and Germany. 'I searched for students who needed help and gave them my number,' Ahmed says. She held three online intensive courses – in June, August and December 2024 – managing to finish the whole of the final year physics course in a month, with multiple sessions a day reaching up to 100 students, she says. [ Sally Hayden: From a viewing platform in Israel, observers watch Gaza's destruction Opens in new window ] They attended classes through Microsoft Teams, took tests through Google Forms and watched as Ahmed used a virtual physics lab to carry out experiments. Some later passed formal exams in Egypt, while others are at least better prepared for whenever they get the chance. In January 2025, Ahmed joined about 25 West Bank-based teachers involved in a more official programme offering 'virtual schools' for Gazan students, supported by the Palestinian education ministry in Ramallah. She says teachers inside Gaza have made impressive efforts to teach classes in tents, but 'it's crowded, a lot of noise, [the students] can't hear anything and they don't understand things'. She calls for those teachers to get more financial support and materials such as tablets, pens and paper. Through the virtual school, Ahmed taught 480 students in Gaza online. She received a stipend from the Palestinian Authority for some of that period, but said she would take part either way. 'We didn't join for money, we joined to help our students.' 'They are very thirsty for education, they think this is their hope to overcome this miserable situation.' Photograph: Sally Hayden Dr Salem Abu Musleh, the co-ordinator of the Palestine Astrophysics Programme, who now teaches in tents in Khan Younis, says in-person learning is still the best option for many. Nearly 80 per cent of Gazan students do not have access to stable internet from Palestinian providers, relying instead on weak, cheaper connections from service providers in tents, and must often travel long distances to get it, he says. Many are without a mobile phone, laptop or electricity – or have just one mobile phone per family. The internet regularly goes down. But virtual schools can be more 'comfortable' for those with that option, Ahmed says. 'I try to overcome the problem of when the internet is not available. I record my classes and I have a YouTube channel ... I have a special page on Facebook for the students of Gaza.' Starvation badly affects her students, with one in three Palestinians in Gaza going without food for days at a time, according to the UN. 'They are very, very, very hungry. My students told me while studying they [can't even get] a cup of tea with a spoon of sugar. [They ask] 'how can I study and do my homework without eating?' This is severe hunger they face, they're being pushed into starvation.' Some parents contact Ahmed too. 'A mother told me her daughter is a student, she can't go to where the charging point for mobiles is as she hasn't eaten for one week, she's so weak.' 'It was some kind of light through the darkness' Suheir Hussein Abu Arqub (55) – an English teacher in the West Bank for the past 24 years – began teaching virtual school in October last year, alongside her regular secondary school position in Dura. 'At first, the situation was hopeless and we were very sad for the students, we thought they lost their future ... but when the idea of virtual schools appeared it was some kind of light through the darkness. It was really an attempt to save what you can save,' she says. Suheir Hussein Abu Arqub started teaching online English classes for Gazan students in October last year. Photograph: Sally Hayden 'The idea is to keep the students in contact with schools, books, teachers and knowledge, education ... We don't want to lose hope. We want any kind of opportunity to give them light ... Certificates now are not important, what's important is to give them necessary knowledge that will help them in the future.' Arqub says she teaches as many as 1,700 students in Gaza across various groups, with up to 120 logging in for each class. 'Not all the students are able to connect ... because they have internet problems. Sometimes electricity is cut most of the day, some don't have mobiles or laptops ... In periods where there are massive bombing and destruction the number [joining classes] becomes much less.' She says students create WhatsApp groups to help each other and exchange homework. They have access to books online. But, even when in class, the horrors they are experiencing are impossible to forget. 'Displacement is a very hard situation for students, they say they keep all the time moving from place to place so this interrupts their continuous learning. Some lost close relatives. 'I have a student who talked to me, he lost his brother ... He said they were displaced and then when they returned to their house the house was damaged, but they don't have another place to live so they live in it and fear it will collapse on them.' During one lesson, she recalls, a student started screaming, saying his area was being bombed and he was going to move to a safer place. But he added: 'Please Miss, don't forget me'. Another student messaged from hospital, saying 'my father was killed and my mother was killed and I'm wounded in hospital but I want you to send me your homework and tell me what you did when I was away.' A student named Mohammed was killed, Arqub says. 'He did well on his exam ... When he died the students from the area where he lives [told] the principal ... I cried.' About 1,500 Gazan students sat high school matriculation exams – 'tawjihi' – on July 19th, according to Palestinian news agency Wafa. Those exams had been postponed since December 2023, and took place electronically, in organised venues or online from wherever those taking part could find an internet connection and charged device. Ahmed would like to see more students given the opportunity to sit their final exams but recognises that 'it depends on the security situation'. Writing on Al Jazeera's website this week, Ahmad Abushawish, a student still waiting to sit his, said the exams are not only a 'milestone', but also carry 'cultural and emotional weight' as a 'symbol of perseverance.' 'In a place where the occupation closes nearly every door, education is able to keep a few doors still open,' he wrote. Despite all of their challenges, Ahmed says she has never seen such dedicated students. 'I feel the students of Gaza deserve this because they insist on learning, they search for the knowledge ... They are very thirsty for education, they think this is their hope to overcome this miserable situation. They were very ambitious and hopeful in spite of all this.' Next, Ahmed says, her students are keen to join virtual universities 'to be connected with education forever. They're very clever, creative, they think outside the box. They deserve it'.
Irish Examiner
5 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
More imagination needed to solve the housing emergency
When the Government declared covid-19 an emergency, bureaucracy was set aside and targets were achieved in recognition of the common good. No matter how well-intentioned the Government is about solving the housing crisis, it will require a collaborative approach as effective as addressing the pandemic. While the recently revised National Development Plan (NDP) announcement of enhanced infrastructure investment, including over €30bn of investment in housing, is to be welcomed, a more imaginative approach is needed. At this stage, given rising homeless figures at over 14,000 - including 5,000 children - the need for housing is an emergency and should be declared as such. It's now time for all stakeholders to put their shoulder to the wheel including senior civil servants, local authorities, communities and citizens. There seems to be a sense in Government that only 35,000 new homes will be built per year, even though it has increased annual housing targets to 83,000. The pent-up demand of around 151,000 units in the National Planning Framework (NPF) is underestimated in comparison to those projected by the Housing Commission with a shortfall of up to 250,000 units identified. The NDP's revised aspiration of 300,000 new homes over the next five years will only be achieved if radical steps are taken. It is important to deal with the core issues impacting further supply of housing, in particular a lack of available zoned land for construction. Up until 2014 there was always a supply of land where builders could buy and sell zoned land with planning. Since the core strategy of finding sufficient zoned and serviced land to cater for future housing demand was implemented in 2014 and incorporated into the NPF in 2017/18, zoned land has been artificially constrained to the point that this market is non-functioning. Nature abhors a vacuum with almost the entirety of available zoned land purchased by investment funds and the Land Development Agency (LDA). This has resulted in small and medium-sized indigenous builders being forced to reduce output and increasingly going out of business due to an inability to acquire adequate sites. This is a key contributing factor as to why national target outputs are not being reached. To increase output as envisaged, there needs to be a functioning land market as existed pre-2014 where agents had a supply of this type of land and builders could purchase. Construction work at Waterfall Heights, by Bridgewater, at Waterfall Road, Bishopstown, Cork. Ireland now has the second highest proportionate housing expenditure in the EU. Picture Larry Cummins There is also the innate loyalty and stickability of the Irish domestic builder: the same cannot be said of developments funded by foreign capital. Having excess amounts of land zoned doesn't translate to bad planning – allowing badly planned development on zoned land causes bad outcomes. In recent years, the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) has overseen the dezoning of land, much of which was serviced, based on a flawed NPF reliant on out-of-date ESRI model of future demand. The OPR's role must transition to one of 'implementor' - facilitating and overseeing domestic Irish construction companies throughout the country to build housing estates of 50-150 homes creating employment throughout various regions and rural Ireland. Indeed, in this capacity they can also oversee the necessary construction of large apartment complexes in cities and large towns, while also facilitating high-density compact housing estates on the periphery of cities and satellite towns. But while kickstarting smaller apartments is necessary to meet housing targets, encouraging a proportionate number of larger homes should also be considered to accommodate families. No further dezoning should be permitted without proven and solid grounds. What chance do large, medium or small developers have in securing funding for purchasing and building on serviced zoned land when the local authority, at the instruction of the Planning Regulator, can withdraw that zoning without notice. Funders or developers cannot operate in such a business environment. Lands dezoned in recent years should be rezoned by each relevant local authority. This, coupled with prioritised water and electricity supply schemes, would increase availability to build several thousand houses in the short term. Many housing developments are subject to Local Area Plans (LAPs) several of which have expired and therefore cannot be relied upon. Preparing masterplans is expensive and time consuming leading to planning application submission delays up to 12 to 18 months. This process needs to be streamlined and prioritised and LAPs need to be fast-tracked. Apprentice training schemes mentioned in the revised NDP are of course welcome, however, in the immediate term availability of trained personnel is not the problem. Recent lay-offs by indigenous companies points to this with others stating they are operating well below capacity. Reduced local authority levies and other costs within the State's control would be more effective, particularly in the short-term. The cost of building is also having a damaging impact on further vitally-needed supply. Dublin is the second most expensive city in Europe to build apartments with the cost of delivering a two-bed apartment around €600k in Dublin, and €460k to deliver a three-bed house. Ireland now has the second highest proportionate housing expenditure in the EU. Several Government initiatives have been introduced to address these costs including the Croi Conaithe Cities Scheme, First Home Equity Scheme, and the Help to Buy scheme among others. However, these demand-side subsidies have not had the desired impact and therefore need to be enhanced including a recalibration of the caps set for the First Home Equity and the Help to Buy Schemes, respectively, and allowing the payment support of the Croi Conaithe Cities scheme to be made upfront. Garry Keegan: 'The National Development Plan's revised aspiration of 300,000 new homes over the next five years will only be achieved if radical steps are taken.' The recently announced reduction in the minimum size requirement for apartments and other deregulations to increase the number of allowable units per core proves that the Custom House is listening to expert and experienced advice from the construction industry. More needs to be done to reduce the gap between construction costs and what can be achieved in the open market. By adopting the same collective approach as has been done in the recent past to address the most pertinent issue facing the State, only then will this current crisis be averted. Dr Garry Keegan is a former Dublin City councillor, former ESB board member and recently published Infrastructure Projects and Local Communities . He has worked on infrastructure and housing development projects over the past three decades.
