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Irish activists among Gaza Convoy that today broke Israeli siege & delivered aid
The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) have congratulated and paid tribute to all the activists on the Viva Palestina Gaza Convoy who today entered Gaza - breaking the siege imposed by Israel - and delivered more than $5 million in much needed humanitarian aid to the population living there. The convoy of almost 150 vehicles and 370 people, the largest convoy ever to break the Israeli siege, entered Gaza at 4pm local time through the Egyptian controlled Rafah crossing where they were met by thousands of jubilant Palestinians.
A number of Irish citizens, including Jimmy Nolan and Joe Gilmartin from County Tipperary who are members of Tipp to Gaza, were part of the convoy. They were driving an ambulance filled with medical aid and school supplies which they will deliver to the Al Adwa hospital in Gaza. Other Irish citizens taking part in the convoy include human rights activists from Counties Antrim and Tyrone.
The convoy had driven for more than a month, covering over 3,000 miles from London to deliver this much needed humanitarian aid. The aid, which will be handed over in its entirety to the relevant bodies tomorrow, includes antibiotics for the old and sick, ventilators for newborn babies and schoolbags filled with notebooks, pens and pencils for schoolchildren. There are also chemotherapy drugs, refrigerator units, new wheelchairs, breathing tubes, surgical equipment, dental equipment and hundreds of different types of medicine, bandages and dressings.
Paying tribute to the activists who enter Gaza, IPSC National Chairperson Freda Hughes tonight aid: “These activists are to be commended and congratulated for their bravery and determination to breach this illegal blockade and deliver their humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip. This was despite threats in recent days by the Israeli military that they were preparing to intercept the convoy and various obstacles placed in their way by Egyptian authorities. The people of Gaza must also be praised for their steadfastness in the face of the brutality and inhumanity of Israel's apartheid policies.”
Ms Hughes added: “Basic essentials including food, water and medical equipment continue to be prevented from being brought into Gaza in adequate quantities, resulting in widespread poverty, hunger and chronic malnutrition among children. This continued denial of basic essentials and of freedom of movement is a massive violation of the human rights of the 1.5 million people who live in what Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin described as the 'open prison' that is Gaza.”
Ms Hughes continued: “While this convoy has breached the blockade, the cruel and illegal siege remains in place. The fact that these activists have had to resort to such actions is a damning indictment of the international community who despite acknowledging the illegality and barbarity of the blockade have failed to take any meaningful action to end it”
Ms Hughes concluded: “It is long past time for the international community to finally live up to their responsibilities. They must take whatever action is necessary to force Israel to end the blockade and to secure justice and freedom for the Palestinian people. The EU and the Irish government regularly express a commitment to human rights, now they need to move beyond rhetoric and implement official sanctions against the rogue state of Israel or will continue to act with impunity and the Palestinian people will continue to pay the price.”
ENDS
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press release
Thursday October 21, 2010 21:57
by Gerry C - IPSC
info at ipsc dot ie
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Comments (7 of 7)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7Well done to all these activists.
The IPSC is not all about press releases but it would be interesting to see what the Act for Palestine group does on a practical basis. I've heard good things BUT let's hear about what they intend to do as a group and how interested parties can get involved or promote them. Also to ask if they work with groups with similar aims? Best of luck with them in the future and their endeavours - activists are always needed considering the current climate where the ordinary Irish person is looking to the next budget and how it affects them rather than getting involved on the international stage. It's a good endeavour so let's hear more.
If its press releases you want, check this morning's Myrish Times for the Israeli Embassy's Press Officer, Derek O'Flynn, smoothing the facts on the ground into place for Zion's oath of allegiance, with Madam's usual loyalties in the right(as befits a PD)place.
I sent a letter on the same topic a few days back, unlikely to see print(pressure of space, no doubt). Thats where the IPSC, or any other 'recognised spokesgroup', has its part to play in puncturing the hasbara bullshit.
Writing against this propaganda IS action. If you prefer to chant outside the embassy the address is provided. A rebuttal in the rag of record has more effect.
Interesting how little coverage there is of this achievement in the Irish media, broadcast or print. Under instructions, no doubt, to play it down. This would have come from the Editorial end of things, which in turn would have received it from . . . .?
The IPSC has regetably turned into a talkshop that issues press releases rather now over anything else. They have been unable to branch out and have spent too much time arguing among themselves over academic points and total jaron (evidenced in the posting beside this) as opposed to fighting for the common goal : the people and families who are affected. We need this organisation to come dwon out of its Ivory Tower and stop the exclusion and open up membership and move the campaign forward. If the IPSC are not in agreement with this and would rather operate on a press releasing function, perhaps thos of us who want to get things be allowed by the powers that be because it seems a game of cat and mouse is being played.
I presume thats a refernce to my effort. What makes you think I'm a member of the IPSC?My party affilliation is indicated above.
I was replying to a specific post further up, from nonbrain. Or is that you again, only unable to reply to the points made?
You appear more upset(obsessed?) by the activities of this IPSC than the brutality of Zion.Shalom.
[ed comment removed by moderator]
It seems the poster feels that engaging with the media is a waste of time. Well, that's an opinion, certainly. A wrong one I think, but each to their own. The aim of the IPSC is to build the broadest possible solidarity with the Palestinian people's struggle for justice among the Irish public, civil society and polity. Regardless of the growth of the 'new media', the fact is that most people still rely on the TV and newspapers for their daily intake of news. To ignore these outlets would be, simply, idiotic with regard to achieving this aim.
To claim that the IPSC "issues press releases rather now [sic] over anything else" is of course nonsensical - and reeks of slinging mud with an ulterior motive. Like any serious campaign group - or indeed political party - the IPSC issues press releases when important events occur (such as the breaking of the siege by the Viva Palestina convoy). It would be doing the cause a disservice if we did [em]not[/em], don't you think?
The IPSC runs a multi-faceted campaign - from grassroots mobilisations and BDS activism (such as the upcoming Boycott Israeli Blood Diamonds day of action and the 100s of similar events we have staged over the past 9 years - some very big, some relatively small), to awareness raising events (see the recent launch of William Parry's 'Against The Wall'), to working with trade unions and political lobbying (see the recent decision by the Irish government not to buy bullets from Israel, which the IPSC ran an 8 months campaign on, or the decision not to send any Irish reps to the OECD conference in Jerusalem, or the raft of anti-Veolia motions passed by local councils), to divestment issues (see our high profile intervention at the CRH AGM earlier this year which made the business pages of most Irish newspapers), to the Cultural Boycott (see the Irish Artists' Pledge to Boycott Israel - now with 180 signatories), to Dev-ed and outreach work. On top of that we are involved in the Irish Ship To Gaza campaign. And of course, media work is an important part of [em]all[/em] these aspects of campaign work. Sometimes it is picked up on, other times (unfortunately) it is not. Information on all of these areas of work is readily available on our website for anyone who takes the time to look - http://www.ipsc.ie
As for saying the IPSC has "spent too much time arguing among themselves over academic points and total jaron [sic]" - honestly I've no idea what is meant by this. Perhaps the poster would care elaborate?
Finally, the most bizarre comment of all is that the IPSC needs to "stop the exclusion and open up membership and move the campaign forward". Clearly the poster has no idea what they are talking about - the IPSC is open to anyone who agrees with the aims and objectives of the organisation and pays their annual subscription. You can even join online - http://www.ipsc.ie/join. Our branch meetings are open to all interested people, not just members of the IPSC. If you have a genuine desire to get involved in Palestinian solidarity work in Ireland, then why not come along to one of these meetings and tell us what you think we are doing wrong. Surely a far more sensible approach than shouting the odds anonymously on Indymedia? We are [em]always[/em] looking for new people to get involved at whatever level of commitment people feel they can give - there are may ways in which one can take action in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
As an addendum, I would like to make clear that the targets the IPSC focus on (eg, Veolia, CRH, OECD, arms contracts, Israeli goods, the cultural boycott etc etc) are not things we dreamed up ourselves. The IPSC works in collaboration with several international umbrella groups such as the Boycott Israel Network, the ECCP and, most importantly, the Palestinian Boycott National Committee (BNC) from whom we take our lead. The IPSC firmly believes that we should listen to what Palestinian civil society is calling on internationals to do to, and take on these campaigns to the best of our abilities.