Gaza protest outside Minister McConalogue’s office in Carndonagh

The Inishowen branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign held a protest in Carndonagh on Friday, May 2, as part of a day of nationwide action demanding that the government pass the Occupied Territories Bill.

The group said it wants a stop to US planes using Shannon Airport for missions that “support the relentless bombing of civilians in Gaza, and to stop the Central Bank trading in Israeli Bonds.”

These were among the main demands put in a letter to Minister Charlie McConalogue, and handed in person into his Constituency Office in Carn.

Demonstrators held a minute's silence to mourn the devastating loss of tens of thousands of civilians in Gaza, the majority of them women and children.

They banged empty pots and pans to highlight the forced starvation policy that the people in Gaza suffer. Palestinians are now dying in increasing numbers since the total blockade by Israel of all aid, food, clean water, and medicine.

Protesters in Carn held up banners and painted their hands red, which they said symbolised the hands of the government, dripping in the blood of innocent Palestinian children.

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They also lay down on the road outside Minister McConalogue’s office off the Diamond.

“Irish inaction is NOT in our name as a campaign group, and not in the name of the Irish people,” they said.

A group spokesperson added: “We urge everyone to hold our politicians accountable and demand urgent and effective action, to ensure they honour their obligations under International Law. Pass the Occupied Territories Bill now in full as a first step.”

The lobby said it calls on “Minister McConalogue to make our voice, that of your constituents, heard in the Dáil and express our utter outrage at the government not holding Israel accountable.”