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The Journal
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Irish activists helping to organise new flotilla trying to get aid to Gaza
IRISH ACTIVISTS ARE helping to organise a new international flotilla aiming to deliver aid to Gaza and break Israel's blockade as the number of civilians killed through violence or starvation continues to rise. The flotilla is set to launch from Spain on 31 August and stop at Tunisia and other countries on 4 September before sailing towards Gaza, with people from more than 44 countries participating. It comes as a joint statement from 24 countries and the EU denounce the 'famine unfolding before our eyes' in Gaza as Israel severely limits the amount of aid getting into Gaza, leaving people to suffer without enough food or other essential supplies like medicines. The new Global Sumud Flotilla, organised by the Global Movement to Gaza (GMTG) campaign, aims to break Israel's blockade and raise attention to the starvation happening in Gaza – though Israel is likely to intercept it before it reaches Gaza. Advertisement 'The people of Ireland are steadfast in our support for the liberation of Palestine,' said Karen Moynihan, GMTG Irish coordinator, in a statement. 'The Global Sumud Flotilla sails with more boats then ever seen before to break the siege on Gaza,' Moynihan said. 'We are calling everyone across Ireland to join the movement and support the flotilla. Citizens of the world are united, and we will not stop until Palestine is free. No one is free until Palestine is free.' In June, the Freedom Flotilla on the boat the Madleen departed from Sicily with aid and noted activists and politicians on board, including Greta Thunberg. Israeli forces intercepted the ship in international waters and detained and later deported those on board. 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
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
