Cork campaigners launch documentary series on weekly Palestine protests

The stories and motivations of people who have marched through Cork in solidarity with Palestinians will be explored in a new video series launching this week

A Cork Palestine Solidarity Group march on Grand Parade before heading off through the city centre on a Saturday afternoon. Hundreds of people have taken part in demonstrations through the city every Saturday since October 2023 to protest the Israeli government’s genocidal war in Gaza. Picture: Larry Cummins

A new video series featuring participants in Cork's weekly Palestine solidarity marches is to be released online from this week.

Hundreds of people have taken part in demonstrations through Cork City every Saturday since October 2023 to protest the Israeli government’s genocidal war in Gaza.

The series is being produced by Derry Chambers and his daughter Sarah and will feature interviews with some of those who have regularly attended the marches.

Mr Chambers said: “Such a sustained show of public protest is unprecedented in Irish history and reflects the sense of outrage felt in Irish society at the savagery of the Israeli regime as it carries out with, apparent impunity, its campaign of genocide in Gaza."

The marches have brought together people from across Cork in solidarity with Palestinians. The video series will feature some of those who have taken part, as they share their motivation for continued involvement in the marches.

Interviewees include factory workers, writers, students, artists, doctors and healthcare workers, parents, musicians, comedians, teachers, and lawyers.

The first video to be shared this week features Agnete Simpson, 91, who tells of her upbringing in Denmark, the Nazi invasion of her country, how the Danish people helped Jews escape Hitler during her country’s occupation, and how her faith commands her to attend the weekly Cork rallies.

Mr Chambers and his daughter plan to share videos every week over the coming months as 40 interviews with Cork’s protesters are filmed.

The series comes as a Palestinian girl died on Monday after she was shot in the head by Israeli soldiers. Saba Naim Abdullah al-Hashash, 13, was shot two days earlier but died of her injuries on Monday.

Despite a ceasefire being called last October, Gaza has been hit almost every day by artillery and other weapons since.

At least 1,258 Palestinians have been killed and some 4,139 injured since the ceasefire was supposed to begin on October 10, Gaza’s Health Ministry estimates.​ 

In total, Israel has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians and injured more than 174,000 since October 2023, it is estimated. Gaza’s infrastructure has also been almost completely destroyed or badly damaged, with 90% of infrastructure impacted.

On Sunday, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was rejecting US president Donald ⁠⁠Trump’s 15-point peace plan for Gaza.

Netanyahu said that he would not ⁠⁠withdraw forces until the Palestinian group Hamas ⁠⁠fully disarms. Hamas has said it remains committed to fully implementing the plan.