North Tipperary branch of Palestinian solidarity campaign to launch in Nenagh

On Thursday, March 21, in the Abbey Court Hotel, Nenagh, the North Tipperary branch of the Irish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign will officially be launched.

In north Tipperary, various independent Palestinian advocacy groups have joined resources to create the newest branch of the IPSC. Cloughjordan Palestine Justice, Nenagh Friends of Palestine, Thurles Friends of Palestine, as well as activists from Roscrea and Newport havecome together to provide a constituency-wide platform to raise awareness and provide support of the Palestinian people.

As it grows, North Tipperary IPSC aims to attract members from every parish within the area.

A public talk public talk featuring Nenagh’s Trevor Hogan opens the evening at 7pm, with the formal launch itself following this.

A former Leinster and Irish rugby player, Hogan has long campaigned on the Palestine issue, including aboard the MV Saoirse in 2011, which was part of the Freedom Flotilla to break the siege of Gaza. All are welcome to attend, participate and join the latest branch of the IPSC.

The IPSC is an Irish human rights group comprising of community activists, academics and journalists, who are deeply concerned with the current situation in the Occupied Territories of Palestine.

Formed in 2001 in partnership with Palestinians now living in Ireland, the IPSC provides a voice for Palestine in Ireland.

It is an independent, non-party political organisation, run by volunteers. The north Tipp branch will reflect that in its locale, and no doubt do great work for Palestine.

Founding branch member Dan Harty said:

“I am delighted to be involved in this initiative to set up a North Tipperary Branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and it will allowus to pool resources and co-ordinate campaigns and events in a more structured way across the region.”
Mr Harty added:

“As deplorable as the suffering of the Palestinian people has been in the 20th and early 21st century, what is currently happening is an unacceptable escalation to blatant genocide.

“I know the people of North Tipperary, whose activism for Palestine has always been exceptional, will continue to forward the campaign for justice for the Palestinian people, local campaigning that makes a huge difference collectively on the global stage.

“We are looking for as many people from Thurles to get involved, please get in touch if you are able to help out.”

Fellow founding member Damien O’Donoghue, reiterated the urgent need to support Palestine at this time.

“In its ruling of potential genocide against Israel, the International Court of Justice issued provisional measures which Israel must follow.

“They have ignored them completely. Not only does the slaughter of civilians continue, but food, water, fuel and medicine are actively being blocked.

“Amputations occur without anaesthetic. Starvation is rife. Disease claims both young and old. This, piled atop the destruction of hospitals, universities, schools, mosques, churches and even graveyards, surely points towards a genocide.”
Morag Friel of the Cloughjordan Palestine Justice group adds:

“Cloughjordan Palestine Justice is proud to join forces with other North Tipp groups under the IPSC umbrella. Our individual groups are doing great work locally raising awareness and funds for Palestine, but we can achieve even more as part of the wider Irish movement. The louder our collective voice, the more chance we have of convincing our government to stand up and fight against international hypocrisy in the face of the Israeli genocide.”

The group calls for anyone in the North Tipperary area who would like to contribute to this humanitarian cause – or simply to find out more information – to make contact through the following media: Email: northtipperaryipsc@gmail .com. Twitter: @IpscNorthTipp Instagram: ipscnorthtipperary.

For those who cannot attend, North Tipperary IPSC askes that readers get involved when they can, to talk about Gaza with family, friends and workmates and become active in campaigning against the ongoing assault on and illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories.

The IPSC has organised a number of huge demonstrations around Ireland over recent months, and recently welcomed the unanimous passing of a motion by the Civil Engagement Group in the Seanad calling for robust actions by the Irish government against Israel.

As well as encouraging increased diplomatic pressure, humanitarian aid and immediate ceasefire, this motion also made some specific calls on the Irish government. These include calls to - enact a rigorous and transparent inspection protocol at air and sea ports to ensure that weapons bound for Israel are not passing through Ireland:

• Advocate within the EU for the urgent suspension the EU-Israel Association Agreement on human rights grounds by triggering Article 82 of the Agreement.
• Provide a money message for the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 and to support its enactment; - support the enactment of the Illegal Israeli SettlementsDivestment Bill 2023.
  IPSC National chair, Zoe Lawlor welcomed the branch.

“We at IPSC are delighted to have a new branch in North Tipperary.

During this latest round of extreme violence by apartheid Israel against the Palestinian people - the genocide in Gaza - people all over Ireland have come out to show their rejection of this mass murder.

“In the midst of such horror, it is heartening to see so much solidarity with Palestine, and we welcome the North Tipp Branch, where there has been great activism for Palestine over the years.

“With so many new branches of the IPSC and constant actions up and down the island for five months, there is a clear message to our government that we need to see action from them to sanction Israel for its crimes, said Ms Lawlor.