Free Gaza Movement activist, Derek Graham, appeals for funds in Galway to buy Gaza relief ship

galway | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Monday February 09, 2009 18:48

by TD - Free Palestine Campaign

"The Israeli soldiers were wearing nappies while they killed (Palestinian) babies in their beds" (Treasa Ni Cheannabhain)

Last Saturday in the Nun's Island Theatre, Galway, fundraiser and activist with the Palestine Children's Appeal, Treasa Ni Cheannabhain, delivered a harrrowing and powerful eyewitness account of her recent humanitarian mission to Gaza and Free Gaza Movement and Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign activist, Derek Graham, made an impassioned plea for funds to purchase a ship that would be instrumental in ferrying building materials essential for the rebuilding of Gaza's war shattered infrastructure.

The audience were informed by Derek of the salient and repellent fact that Israel is going to be entrusted by the "international community" with the some €2.5 billion raised so far for the rebuilding of Gaza's infrastructure thus enabling the wanton destructor to profit from its war crimes - already, Israel is crowing that it has allowed in cement for this purpose, but as the Gazans point out, no sand, thus making this propaganda exercise gratuitously cruel. Treasa Ni Cheannabhain related how Gazan families, their homes destroyed in the genocidal fury of the Israeli attack are living in holes dug in the rubble enduring the winter weather with no end in sight, with Israel only allowing in a modicum of humanitarian relief - just enough for a pitiless world to fix its blind eye elsewhere. Treasa also related how the much vaunted Israeli three hour ceasefires to allow in aid during its onslaught were just more vicious PR bullshit manufactured with the Western appetite for hypocrisy in mind (For the full flavour and fervor of these two powerful people of conscience, see Politube videos 1306 and 1307)

Prior to the public meeting in Nun's Island, activists from the Free Palestine Campaign and well- wishers mounted, for the fourth week in a row, a flying picket of four Galway establishments selling Israeli goods and foodstuffs grown in the Occupied West Bank and Israel and manned a boycott information stall in Shop Street for six hours. Regrettably, in what is now abominable de rigueur behaviour, the manager of Woodies DIY store in the Headford Rd Shopping Center accused us of being aggressive and abusive to his customers - this contemptible malevolent mantra repeated outside Dunnes in the Edward Square Shopping Center where three of out placards were thefted at the orders of the Centers manager by one of his security goons and only returned when we summoned Gardai who were empathetic and well disposed towards our plight. (See Politube video 1308).

Tonight, facilitated by Mayo Intercultural Action (MIA), in association with GMIT Castlebar Students Union, Derek is speaking in the Michael Davitt Meeting Room,GMIT, Castlebar at 8PM.

In the forefront, Alan Lonergan, Treasa Ni Ch and Derek Graeannabhainham in the background