Major Palestine Solidarity demonstration to take place in Navan

Meath Branch of Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign is organising its first county demonstration on Palestine tomorrow as part of a national action to protest the dire humanitarian conditions and Israeli-made famine in Gaza.

The demonstration will be taking place at Fairgreen, Navan, and will start at 1pm.

The action is also aimed at pressuring members of the Dáil, in advance of their return to Leinster House on 17th September, to act on the demand of the overwhelming majority of the Irish people - 74% - for meaningful sanctions against Israel for its genocidal war on Gaza and the Palestinian people. Speaking in advance of the rally, Meath IPSC Chairperson, Moira Leydon, stated:

“Our Taoiseach and Tánaiste have repeatedly described the Israel onslaught and annihilation of Palestinians in Gaza as constituting genocide. The Opinion of the 2024 International Court of Justice on Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territories obliges states to abstain from entering into economic or trade arrangements with Israel concerning these territories.

“And yet, after its initial introduction in 1918, the Occupied Territories Bill remains on the statute books. The Bill's aim is to ban trade and economic support for illegal settlements in territories deemed occupied under international law. So far, the Government has committed to legislation which only bans trade with goods produced in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Trade in goods represents 30% our trade with Israel: 70% in services. Companies such as Airbnb Ireland provide accommodation in occupied Palestinian territories – and homes – in the West Bank. Ireland must pass a Bill which includes trade and services – as recommended in two recent Oireachtas Committee reports.

"While symbolic, an Act without services would not in any manner constitute a meaningful sanction on Israel."

Moira Leydon, Mayor of Navan Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons, Meath football manager Colm O’Rourke, Sara Abu Marzouq and Susan Mkhabela from Cultúr Navan will be speaking at the rally.