Both are occupied lands one in Ireland and one thousands of miles away in Palestine. Both have suffered immensely under imperialist occupation over the decades . There’s a special bond between Palestine and Ireland, a connection that has lasted an eternity.
Scores of protesters gathered at The Quays shopping complex in Newry. Sainsburys was the assembly point for those wishing to show solidarity and support to the beleaguered Palestinian people.
The location was deliberately chosen as Sainsburys is a leading distributer of Israeli goods. Flags and banners were held aloft and sirens, along with horns, were sounded In what was a peaceful but noisy protest. Members of the British Forces of occupation gathered in an attempt to intimidate and harass those present. Their Zionist cohorts in the Israeli forces would be proud.
The protest took another twist as the organisers caught the RUC militia off guard and made their way to the nearby Marks and Spencer store. It was here that we made our way inside sounding air horns and sirens in a small yet symbolic act of civil disobedience.
As we gathered outside Marks and Spencer an activist addressed those in attendance and read aloud a statement on behalf of Saoradh and the IRPWA. –
“Saoradh and the IRPWA have organised today in solidarity with the Palestinian people who have came under yet another wave of Terror in recent days at the hands of their Zionist oppressors. In the last few days Israel has repeatedly bombarded heavily and densely populated areas of Palestine with hundreds if not thousands of high grade explosives which have murdered and maimed men, women and children and left thousands without a home.
There has been widely shared footage of Zionist soldiers invading Palestinian places of worship including the Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of the holiest sites to Islam. Invading, launching stun grenades, gas canisters and detaining and beating any worshipper they could get their hands on.
Saoradh offer our unconditional support to our Palestinian comrades and absolutely support their right to defend themselves. Like them, we know only too well what occupation means and what it entails. We also offer our condolences to the family and comrades of PFLP Martyr Abdul Aziz Abu Taima who was killed this week.
We also send solidarity to and ask people to remember a Palestinian Political Prisoner held hostage here in Occupied Ireland. Dr Issam Hijawi has been instrumental in raising awareness and building support for the Palestinian cause for years. Unfortunately he now finds himself remanded by a British Judge and held in a British jail in Ireland.
The Palestinian people have struggled for their sovereignty for decades and their struggle is ongoing, Irish Republicans have supported their cause and will do so till the end.”
ENDS
CLANRYE NEWS 