Inishowen Palestine supporters to go on 72-hour hunger strike
Local anti-war lobby also plans to picket Minister McConalogue’s office in Carndonagh once again
The Inishowen branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign has said it’s “disgusted” by the 87 TDs who voted against a Sinn Fein Dail bill that would have prevented the Irish Central Bank from allowing Israel to sell bonds in the European Union.
Three members of the group have announced that they will go on a 72-hour hunger strike this week in protest. The fast will run from midnight on Tuesday, June 3 until midnight on Friday, June 6.
The local anti-war lobby has also signalled its intention to picket the Carndonagh offices of Inishowen Minister of State Charlie McConalogue for the second time in five weeks, to protest the ongoing Israeli bombing of Gaza.
The latest demonstration will take place in the centre of Carn on Friday, June 6 at 3.30pm.
“This is to register our shame and disgust at Charlie McConalogue voting in favour of the sale of Israeli war bonds through the Central Bank, and at his government's lack of any effective action against Israel’s genocide in Gaza, and expanding violent land-grabbing in the West Bank,” a member of the Inishowen IPSC said.
“It will be a loud and heartfelt protest. We ask the wider community to join us, paint your hands red to symbolise how our government's hands run red with the blood of Palestinians. Bring whistles, instruments, pots and pans to make plenty of noise. Our three members who are doing the 72-hour fast will also be attending,” they added.
The Inishowen group says its latest actions are “in solidarity and love for the people of Palestine who are being ethnically cleansed in the most violent ways, including the weaponisation of food, with armed support from US and Europe, including Ireland.”
A group spokesperson said: “We are disgusted with the 87 TDs, who blocked the vote against the sale of Israeli war bonds, of which our local TD Charlie McConalogue was one of the voters. They should hang their heads in shame.”
“A reported 56,000 people are dead, at least half of them are children. The sale of Israeli war bonds is supporting this barbaric slaughter of innocent civilians, including children.”
The Inishowen IPSC branch says it “applauds” the 75 TDs, including Donegal Deputies Padraig MacLochlainn, Pearse Doherty and Charles Ward, who voted in support of the bill.
Meanwhile, the Inishowen IPSC supporters are having a stall at Swan Park, Buncrana on Wednesday, June 4, from 12 noon to 2pm, when they will be promoting Palestinian goods such as keffiyehs, bags, posters, and watermelon key rings.