Launch of North Tipp Palestinian Solidarity branch
Local groups unite to form constituency-wide platform
On Thursday, 21st March in the Abbey Court Hotel, Nenagh, the North Tipperary
branch of the Irish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign will officially be launched.
A public talk public talk featuring Nenagh’s Trevor Hogan opens the evening at 7pm,
with the formal launch itself following this.
A former Leinster and Irish rugby player, Hogan has long campaigned on the
Palestine issue, including aboard the MV Saoirse in 2011, which was part of the
Freedom Flotilla to break the siege of Gaza.
All are welcome to attend and participate, as well as to join the latest branch of the
IPSC.
The IPSC is an Irish human rights group comprising of community activists,
academics and journalists who were deeply concerned with the current situation in
the Occupied Territories of Palestine. Formed in 2001 in partnership with
Palestinians now living in Ireland, the IPSC provides a voice for Palestine in Ireland.
It is an independent, non-party political organisation, run by volunteers.
In North Tipperary, various independent Palestinian advocacy groups have joined
resources to create the newest branch of the IPSC. Cloughjordan Palestine Justice,
Nenagh Friends of Palestine, Thurles Friends of Palestine as well as activists from
Roscrea & Newport have come together to provide a constituency-wide platform to
raise awareness and provide support of the Palestinian people. As it grows, North
Tipperary IPSC aims to attract members from every parish within the area.
IPSC National chair, Zoe Lawlor welcomed the branch. "We at IPSC are delighted to
have a new branch in North Tipperary. During this latest round of extreme violence
by apartheid Israel against the Palestinian people - the genocide in Gaza - people
all over Ireland have come out to show their rejection of this mass murder. In the
midst of such horror, it is heartening to see so much solidarity with Palestine, and we
welcome the North Tipp Branch, where there has been great activism for Palestine
over the years. With so many new branches of the IPSC and constant actions up
and down the island for five months, there is a clear message to our government that
we need to see action from them to sanction Israel for its crimes. The North Tipp
branch will reflect that in its locale and no doubt do great work for Palestine."
Founding branch member, Dan Harty said: “I am delighted to be involved in this
initiative to set up a North Tipperary Branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity
Campaign and it will allow us to pool resources and co-ordinate campaigns and
events in a more structured way across the region.”
Mr. Harty added: “As deplorable as the suffering of the Palestinian people has been
in the 20th and early 21st century, what is currently happening is an unacceptable
escalation to blatant genocide. I know the people of North Tipperary, whose activism
for Palestine has always been exceptional, will continue to forward the campaign for
justice for the Palestinian people, local campaigning that makes a huge difference
collectively on the global stage. We are looking for as many people from Thurles to
get involved, please get in touch if you are able to help out.”
Fellow founding member, Damien O’Donoghue reiterated the urgent need to support
Palestine at this time. “In its ruling of potential genocide against Israel, the
International Court of Justice issued provisional measures which Israel must follow.
They have ignored them completely. Not only does the slaughter of civilians continue
but food, water, fuel and medicine are actively being blocked. Amputations occur
without anaesthetic. Starvation is rife. Disease claims both young and old. This, piled
atop the destruction of hospitals, universities, schools, mosques, churches and even
graveyards, surely points towards a genocide.”
Morag Friel of the Cloughjordan Palestine Justice group adds: “Cloughjordan
Palestine Justice is proud to join forces with other North Tipp groups under the IPSC
umbrella. Our individual groups are doing great work locally raising awareness and
funds for Palestine, but we can achieve even more as part of the wider Irish
movement. The louder our collective voice, the more chance we have of convincing
our government to stand up and fight against international hypocrisy in the face of
the Israeli genocide.”
The group calls for anyone in the North Tipperary area who would like to contribute
to this humanitarian cause – or simply to find out more information – to make contact
through the following media: Email: northtipperaryipsc@gmail.com
Twitter: @IpscNorthTipp Instagram: ipscnorthtipperary
For those who cannot attend, North Tipperary IPSC askes that readers get involved
when they can, to talk about Gaza with family, friends and workmates, and become
active in campaigning against the ongoing assault on and illegal occupation of the
Palestinian territories. .
The IPSC has organised a number of huge demonstrations around Ireland over
recent months, and recently welcomed the unanimous passing of a motion by the
Civil Engagement Group in the Seanad calling for robust actions by the Irish
government against Israel.
As well as encouraging increased diplomatic pressure, humanitarian aid and
immediate ceasefire, this motion also made some specific calls on the Irish
government. These include calls to
- enact a rigorous and transparent inspection protocol at air and sea ports to ensure
that weapons bound for Israel are not passing through Ireland;
- advocate within the EU for the urgent suspension the EU-Israel Association
Agreement on human rights grounds by triggering Article 82 of the Agreement;
- provide a money message for the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied
Territories) Bill 2018 and to support its enactment;
- support the enactment of the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023