The Palestinian flag finally flew at Belfast City Hall, despite the DUP and TUV’s pathetic attempts to sectarianise the movement and delay basic democracy. This was a small but important gesture of solidarity with the besieged Palestinian people.
Thousands attended Belfast’s IPSC march this past Saturday - far outnumbering a small pro-Israel gathering. The Palestine solidarity movement is cross-community and diverse. It welcomes all who are rightly disgusted by Israel's genocide, apartheid and occupation. It includes everyone who stands in solidarity alongside Palestinians, and with all others who face oppression and persecution.
Visibility of the Palestine flag is welcome, but it must be accompanied by tangible, concrete action from Stormont Ministers to divest from companies complicit in Israel’s genocide.
This week, the Planning Committee at Mid Ulster Council approved plans for the expansion of Moyola - a company that manufactures component parts for F35 jets used by the Israeli Military. The same parties that supported flying the Palestinian flag in Belfast raised no objection to this in Mid Ulster Council. This is simply not good enough.
We also need the Executive to state clearly their objection to US military flights being facilitated through Aldergrove Airport, and evidence that no more public money is being funnelled to companies manufacturing weapons of war.
At every opportunity, we must:
- continue to mobilise in large numbers to demand an end to state complicity in this genocide - at Westminster, Stormont and the Dáil.
- defend the right to protest at every turn, despite the British government's attempt to silence dissent.
- push for sanctions against the rogue, pariah state of Israel.
- continue to mobilise in large numbers to demand an end to state complicity in this genocide - at Westminster, Stormont and the Dáil.