Councillors Back Gaza Ceasefire

Israeli soldiers pose on the Gaza Strip border 18FEB24 AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov

atest press release from North Wicklow Against Genocide, issued on Tuesday, April 9th 2024…

An impressive array of Palestinian flags and local activists greeted councillors gathering for their 8th April meeting at the Council offices in Wicklow town.

Before the meeting, councillors chatted with concerned constituents and listened to the poem Never Again by Aine Hayden – containing such evocative lines as ‘In Gaza they’re eating grass. This should haunt every Irish heart.’

During the meeting councillors heard speeches acknowledging the genocidal actions perpetrated by the Israeli State and the slaughter and suffering resulting from them. Councillors received samples of the art works of Wicklow resident Joan Dobbyn – decorated stones with each one a naming an individual child whose life has been cut short by the conflict. In a sad and touching gesture the names of some of these tragic victims were read into the minutes.

A motion by Tom Fortune and seconded by Lourda Scott was passed directing that the Palestinian flag be flown over all council buildings expressing the solidarity of Wicklow people with the struggle for survival of the Palestinian people.

It also committed the council to seek cross party agreement to call for a ceasefire and an end to the ongoing genocide. An amendment by Anne Ferris was also passed specifically committing support to the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement and the exclusion of businesses they target from council procurement of goods and services.

A motion by Dermot O’Brien, seconded by Mick Ryan, acknowledged Israel’s brutal assault on the people of Gaza and escalating settler terrorism on the West Bank. It called on the council to adopt an ethical procurement policy which would exclude corporations that profit from protracted conflict and human rights violations.

NWAG’s Kellie Mc Connell said. “It was a great day for local democracy. Councillors were already aware of a mandate from the majority of their electorate to support the Palestinian people. But councillors also listened to NWAG calls to support and strengthen the motions they were considering.

“NWAG is particularly delighted that a new council procurement policy should exclude companies such as Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and partners Datapac and Softcat, which have a tight relationship with the imposition of the Israeli apartheid regime.

I am extremely proud of the members of our group who have worked so hard to raise local awareness of the terrible plight of ordinary people in Palestine. And to bring the positive reactions they have encountered in doing this to the attention of councillors.

“We can build on this achievement by keeping our foot on the pedal particularly with regard to persuading individual people, businesses and organisations to boycott Israeli goods and services.”

You can find out more about North Wicklow Against Genocide on Facebook here or TikTok here, and get in touch on email here.

Cover image: Northern Gaza Strip 23OCT23 Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP Getty Images