An Irish delegation of 14 officials, including foreign minister Charles Flanagan, entered the Gaza Strip on Monday via the Erez crossing. The visit is expected to last several hours and the delegation will tour areas of the territory destroyed by Israel's military offensive last summer. more

Irish lawmakers urged their government Wednesday to recognize Palestine as a state in a symbolic motion that sailed through parliament unopposed. Ireland's parliament is the fourth European assembly to call for the recognition of Palestinian statehood since October. Lawmakers in France, Britain and Spain also endorsed similar motions, reflecting growing frustration with the deadlocked Middle East peace process. Sweden has gone even further, officially recognizing Palestine as a state in a move that prompted Israel to recall its ambassador. The non-binding motion agreed by lawmakers in Dublin called on the government to "officially recognize the State of Palestine, on the basis of the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital, as established in UN resolutions". This would be "a further positive contribution to securing a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict", it added. more

(Thanks to Muhammad in Belfast) A group of pro-Palestine demonstrators have removed what they said were Israeli-linked products from the shelves of a supermarket in Belfast. Dozens of people removed products, including those made by the Coca Cola company, from the shelves of Sainsbury’s supermarket in west Belfast. Many held aloft banners and flags, shouting 'Free Palestine'. The footage was published by Seosamh O Bradaigh. The clip has already received a huge amount of attention through social media. Elsewhere, leading supermarket chain SuperValu has confirmed it ordered all stores to remove Israeli carrots from their shelves in the Republic. Despite insisting it has not enforced a boycott of goods from the country, an email instruction was sent to all 232 stores last Friday saying the Chantenay variety must not be sold. more

Irish senator and former presidential candidate David Norris made a powerful speech on 31 July condemning Israel’s massacre in Gaza and the complcity of American, Irish and other European governments. Norris called for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador. The eight-minute speech can be seen in the video above. Meanwhile, UK Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has given public backing to an arms embargo on Israel. Excerpts from the official transcript of Norris’ speech: In the 40 years that I have known the State of Israel and sometimes had a home there, I have seen it completely change. It changed from a left-wing, socially directed country to an extreme right-wing regime that is behaving in the most criminal fashion, defying the world and unscrupulously using the Holocaust to justify what they are doing. It is time that rag was torn away from them. On Israel’s violence: Entire families have been obliterated and in one case, 20 members of the same family were slaughtered. Als...

CAIRO (AFP) -- Egypt detained and deported Northern Irish Nobel Laureate and peace activist Mairead Maguire on Wednesday and held up others who had been planning to go to neighboring Gaza, the activists and officials said. Maguire had intended to join a delegation of women activists going to the blockaded Palestinian enclave on Thursday. The group could embarrass the military-installed government, which is at odds with Gaza's Hamas rulers, yet does not want to be seen as party to a siege of Palestinians, blockaded by Israel. On Tuesday, airport police had already detained and deported American anti-war activist Medea Benjamin, also part of the delegation, who told AFP police broke her arm. Maguire said she arrived at Cairo airport on Tuesday night with fellow activist Ann Patterson. "We were taken to the detention center and questioned and held for eight hours, and were told we would not be allowed entry into Cairo and would be put on a plane," she told AFP by tele...

At its annual congress today, an Irish lecturers’ union voted to for a comprehensive academic boycott of Israel, described by activists as the first such move of its kind in Europe. In a unanimous vote, the Teachers’ Union of Ireland called on members to “cease all cultural and academic collaboration with Israel, including the exchange of scientists, students and academic personalities, as well as all cooperation in research programmes.” The motion also called for the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to “step up its campaign for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against the apartheid state of Israel.” David Landy, sociology lecturer at Trinity College Dublin, welcomed the motion in an Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign press release, explaining: “Undoubtedly apologists for Israeli apartheid will complain that such motions stifle academic freedom, but this is nonsense. The Palestinian call for an academic boycott of Israel is an institutional boycott, not a boycott of indiv...

From Mondoweiss The opening event at an international literature festival in Ireland this month was on the subject of Israeli theft of Palestinian land, history and identity. The inaugural speaker, British journalist John McCarthy, is famous for being held hostage by Lebanese Shi'a militia between 1986 and 1991, and his new book, You Can't Hide the Sun: A Journey Through Israel and Palestine, tells the story of the Palestinian citizens of Israel, from the Nakba to the present day. The publication - and book tour - is significant for two reasons: first, BBC broadcaster McCarthy is a 'national treasure' of sorts in the UK and Ireland - held alongside Irish hostage Brian Keenan for much of his 5 years in captivity, he is a dignified, modest hero known for his commitment to human rights causes, and writes of his captors, 'They, too, were underdogs'; second, he is not a public figure of whom it can be said, 'Well, he would say that wouldn't he' (in the wo...

A BID by Ulster Unionist councillor Joan Baird to get Moyle Council to ‘revoke and totally disassociate’ itself from a ‘Twinning Arrangement’ with Gaza failed on Monday night (March 26). The 15-member nationalist-controlled council previously supported twinning on March 12 when seven councillors - all nationalists - backed the proposal and six councillors - five Unionists along with Independent councillor Randal McDonnell - voted against. On Monday night Cllr Baird called on the Council to change its decision. Supporters of the ‘twinning’ say it will bring humanitarian aid to Gaza but opponents believe the move makes a one-sided political statement in the Middle East conflict. more

Uploaded by GazaTVNews on Feb 8, 201 2 In 1980, Irish man Tommy McKearney went 53 days on a hunger strike in the H Blocks. Today, in an Israeli jail, a Palestinian man, Khader Adnan, begins his 54th day on hunger strike. Tommy sends out a message of support for Khader, and for his family. Please support Khader in any way you can, and demand the Israeli Government release Khader who is been held without charge.

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore visited the Gaza Strip on Friday, where he slammed Israel's blockade on the coastal enclave. Gilmore, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, told reporters: "Ireland is completely opposed to the blockade ... It is clearly having a devastating impact on the local economy." "The blockade should be ended soon in order to allow the local economy to grow, and ensure that people who live in Gaza can exercise their human rights: freedom of movement and travel." Gilmore met with officials from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees and civil society representatives in the Gaza Strip, in the first leg of a three-day visit to Israel and Palestine. more

(pic: Demo in Dublin to support of Irish Ship to Gaza) ATHENS — Pro-Palestinian activists hoping to draw international attention to Gaza's plight faced further setbacks Wednesday, as reports a second boat had been "sabotaged" pushed the departure back to the weekend at the earliest. Frustrated volunteers for the Gaza-bound flotilla milled helplessly around in Athens as organisers also admitted they were making little headway with the Greek government over getting the necessary permission to set sail. "The Irish boat has a problem with its propeller, we don't know yet how serious it is, but we believe it may have been sabotaged," said flotilla coordinator Claude Leostic. The problem with the "Saoirse" (Gaelic for freedom) -- one of 10 vessels trying to leaving the Greek port of Piraeus -- followed Monday's news that the propeller on the "Juliano" boat, belonging to Swedish activists, had been cut. more Read a report on the Dublin prote...

The Irish Ship to Gaza Campaign have organised a demonstration in support of Freedom Flotilla 2 - Stay Human. - Assemble: Tuesday 28 June 6.00pm at Central Bank Plaza, Dame St, Dublin 2 - March: Israeli Embassy, 122 Pembroke Rd - Via: The Gaiety Theatre (South King's St) where Riverdance will be opening. Riverdance is scheduled to perform a series of shows in Israel in September, and the IPSC are organising a protest outside the opening night in the Gaiety at 6.30pm. The march will link up with this protest and go out to the Israeli Embassy. The demonstration is supported by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Irish Anti-War Movement. Support the Irish Ship to Gaza and the second Freedom Flotilla! The Freedom Flotilla II, including the Irish Ship to Gaza and the Mavi Marmara (which attacked in open waters last year by the Israelis with the loss of nine lives), sets sail for Palestine on or about the 28 June, with desperately needed supplies and equipment. We are calling...

(pic: Irish Ship to Gaza launch press conference) From Irish Ship to Gaza Israel has been called on to avoid military force against human rights activists who will next week attempt to break the Gaza blockade. Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore said he has told Israeli Ambassador to Ireland, Boaz Modai, that any interception of the flotilla must be peaceful. Nine people were killed last year when commandos stormed the MV Marmara, a Turkish aid ship trying to break the naval blockade. The Irish-owned MV Saoirse will sail with up to a dozen other aid vessels next week as part of Freedom Flotilla II. Mr Gilmore said he can not advise any Irish national to participate in a venture which potentially brings them into harm’s way.” I emphasised, however, to the Ambassador that if the flotilla does sail next week, then Israel must exercise all possible restraint and avoid any use of military force if attempting to uphold their naval blockade,” said Mr Gilmore, the foreign affairs minister. more

From Irish Ship to Gaza By Sarah Stack Tuesday, June 21, 2011 HUMAN rights activists trying to break the Gaza blockade have vowed to stop Israeli forces from boarding their ship. Dr Fintan Lane, co-ordinator of Irish Ship to Gaza , said crews in the second aid flotilla will make it difficult for officials to seize control of vessels, including the Irish-owned MV Saoirse. Nine people were killed last year when Israeli commandos stormed the MV Marmara, a Turkish aid ship trying to break the naval blockade. “If they attempt to board the ship, we will non-violently impede their progress,” said Dr Lane. “We will not facilitate their boarding party. “We will not lay hands on them, we will not use physical measures against them. But we will lock down the ship and make it difficult to seize control.” At least 20 Irish citizens, including former rugby international Trevor Hogan, are taking part in Freedom Flotilla II. About a dozen aid ships bearing medical supplies, sports equipment and constr...

From The Journal - ACTRESS SINEAD CUSACK and TD Richard Boyd Barret are among the high profile figures joining the call for support for the MV Saoirse , the Irish ship which will set sail for Gaza in the next few days. The boat is part of an aid flotilla hoping to breach Israel’s blockade of Gaza. Twenty-five Irish activists and politicians will be on board the ship. The Irish Anti-War Movement has called on the Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore to ask the Israeli Government to allow free passage of the MV Saoirse to Gaza, where the movement says people are “being slowly starved and deprived of their human rights to live in dignity”. more Freedom Flotilla 2 Facebook page is here

From Waterford Today Two Waterford Sinn Fein public representatives are joining an international flotilla at the end of this month bound for the strife torn region of Gaza in the Middle East. John Hearne, Larchville co-opted onto Waterford City Council on Monday night to replace newly elected Senator David Cullinane, and Pat Fitzgerald, Leperstown, Dunmore East, a member of Waterford County Council are both experienced seafarers and will be part of the crew on Freedom Flotilla II Stay Human on the ship Saoirse, and comprising of 11 ships on a peaceful humanitarian mission to Gaza with up to 1200 citizens from around the world. There will be 50 survivors of the Holocaust on one of the ships, which will include journalists. Both Sinn Fein activists travelled to Dublin last weekend where they were briefed on the journey. Both Councillors thanked the Waterford Council of Trade Unions for financial sponsorship. more http://irishshiptogaza.org/

www.irishshiptogaza.org Four of Ireland's rugby team score a try for the besieged Palestinian people of Gaza. Civil society has spoken, enough is enough. The illegal blockade of Gaza and the humanitarian crisis it has created must be broken. Convert the try, please donate what you can. Irish Ship to Gaza Response to Israeli Embassy Letter Dr Fintan Lane National Coordinator of the Irish Ship to Gaza responds to letter from Ruth Zakh, deputy ambassador at the embassy of Israel in Dublin Madam – Imagine it is still and dark and you are on a small motor cruiser with 16 other people somewhere in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea. You are part of a six-ship unarmed humanitarian aid flotilla that has repeatedly stressed its peaceful intent. Suddenly, from the darkness of early morning and without warning, fast black assault boats appear on all sides and begin to speed towards the ships in the flotilla. A helicopter appears over the largest ship – the Mavi Marmara – which is ...

AS thousands of Leinster rugby fans begin the exodus to Cardiff for this weekend's Heineken Cup final, one rugby star is preparing for a far more formidable journey. Trevor Hogan (31), who played over 100 games for both Leinster and Munster, will next month be one of 30 Irish people on a major flotilla hoping to break through an Israeli sea blockade of the Gaza Strip. The Nenagh man said that the Irish vessel, Saoirse, will be one of 11 ships hoping to provide much needed humanitarian aid to Palestinians next month. The flotilla departs for Gaza just over a year after an Israeli raid on the first Freedom Flotilla resulted in the deaths of nine passengers. Hogan, who played four times for Ireland, was forced to retire from professional rugby because of a knee injury last January. While playing for Leinster, he studied Arab-Israeli conflicts in UCD with his former coach -- Michael Cheika. "The injustices there are something I slowly became aware of. I can see the parallels with ...

Spanish and Irish MEPs Willy Meyer and Paul Murphy, respectively, will be sailing on the blockade-busting boats, while Dutch MEP Nicole Kill-Nielsen is to meet the flotilla when it reaches Gaza, by entering the Strip through Egypt. EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - At least two MEPs plan to put their personal safety at risk by going on boats in a new flotilla to break Israel's maritime blockade on Gaza. Flotilla organiser Manuel Tapial told press at the EU parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday (10 May) that Willy Meyer, a left-wing Spanish euro-deputy, and Paul Murphy, a left-wing Irish member, will be on two of the around 15 boats that plan to sail from various European locations in June. "Those who will be there, who don't hold public office, who don't have a high profile, need these people to protect their lives," he said. French green MEP Nicole Kill-Nielsen indicated she will enter Gaza via Egypt as part of another group of euro-parliamentarians to meet the boats if the...

From the Irish Times CELEBRATED IRISH travel writer Dervla Murphy is to join Irish activists taking part in a Gaza-bound aid flotilla due to sail at the end of March. Ms Murphy (78) will sail on a 25-passenger boat recently acquired by Irish activists planning to participate in the multinational flotilla, which is expected to begin its voyage on March 30th. Several Irish politicians including Fianna Fáil TD Chris Andrews and his party colleague Senator Mark Daly, Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh and People Before Profit councillor Richard Boyd Barrett have also pledged their participation. Ms Murphy contacted Dr Fintan Lane of the Free Gaza Movement and the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign last week. “I asked if there was room on the boat because I would very much like to go,” she told The Irish Times . “I feel so strongly about the whole situation in Gaza, and I think the flotilla is a good way of drawing international attention to what is going on there. more