Cork protestors stage 'die-in' in solidarity with Palestine 

Speakers call on Government to implement the Occupied Territories Bill as Israel resumed its bombardment of Gaza

Close to 1,000 protesters took to the streets of Cork on Saturday marching in solidarity with Palestine and staging a 'die-in’ at City Hall. Picture: Chani Anderson

Demonstrators staged a silent “die-in” at Cork City Hall on Saturday as part of a Palestine solidarity protest march through the city.

The Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign said around 1,000 people took part and lay down on the pavement in front of City Hall to draw attention to the death toll in Gaza.

It marked the ninth consecutive weekend of protests staged by the campaign group, as they called for city councillors to pressure the Government to work towards ending the war.

The war was raging again today in the region, as Israeli warplanes struck parts of the Gaza Strip in relentless bombardments. The latest strikes came a day after the United States vetoed a United Nations resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, despite it being backed by the vast majority of Security Council members and many other nations.

The Palestine protesters took to the streets of Cork again on Saturday, with up to 1,000 also staging a 'die-in’ outside Cork City Hall. Picture: Chani Anderson

Main speaker Martin Shiel, who co-chairs the campaign, called on the Government to immediately take action, and was critical of the “inaction” from Ministers Micheál Martin and Simon Coveney.

“Tut-tutting at the start of a genocide and then sitting back and congratulating yourself for your tuts isn't good enough", he said. "Micheál Martin — implement the Occupied Territories Bill. Simon Coveney — just get out of the way and stop blocking it."

Speaking on behalf of the Fórsa trade union, Donal Guerin also called for the enactment of the Occupied Territories Bill, which would prevent trade with Israeli companies operating in the occupied West Bank.

Some of the protesters taking part in the ‘die-in’ at Cork City Hall in solidarity with the people of Palestine. Picture: Chani Anderson

The campaign said in a statement: “Corkonians continue to be horrified by Israel’s horrific genocide of the Palestinian people.

“The die-in took place to help people visually take in the scale of the death toll in Gaza and to call on the Irish government to demand an end to Israel’s war on Gaza, pass the Occupied Territories Bill, cease all trade with Israel and expel the Israeli ambassador.

“The Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign is also calling on the Irish government to demand that the EU impose sanctions on Israel.” 

The group is planning another march and rally for next Saturday in the city.