IADT students among over 200 protestors who blocked Dublin Port
Protestors at Dublin Port. Source: Céilí Í Raithilidh
More than 200 protestors blocked Dublin Port for 4 hours on Thursday to disrupt trade to Israel following the abduction of those aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla this week by Israeli Armed Forces.
The action, which mirrors similar protests taking place internationally under the banner of “Block Everything,” aimed to “disrupt trade routes and business as usual in response to the continued genocide against the Palestinian people,” according to Jessica Dunne, a fourth year art student who took part. Dunne told the Journalism Society that at least 5 other IADT students were among those who participated.
Catherine Connolly speaking outside Leinster House. Source: Ben McCabe
Protests began at 12:30pm outside Leinster House, where the schedule of Dáil Éireann had been changed to facilitate a discussion on the Sumud Flotilla. Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly and activist Jenny Maguire spoke against the abductions, which they described as unlawful. Connolly criticised the government's decision to not send a vessel alongside those of the flotilla, as was done by Spain and Italy, though Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris noted in the Dáil that the Spanish citizens detained were not “treated any differently, better or afforded any degree of greater protection than Irish citizens.”
The Sumud Flotilla is the third such effort this year to have attempted to carry aid to Gaza in response to Israel’s ongoing blockade of the strip. Both flotillas, like the Sumud, were boarded by Israeli Forces who arrested all on board. The Flotilla comprised over 40 vessels across which were a total of 461 activists, journalists, and politicians from 44 countries. Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who was also arrested aboard the Madleen Flotilla, was among the 461 detained by Israel this week, including 16 Irish citizens like Sinn Féin Senator Chris Andrews. Andrews, who has long been outspoken about Israel’s treatment of the Palestinian people, stated shortly prior to his abduction that “Israel’s brutal actions tonight are completely illegal, and show their disregard for international law and human rights” and that the Flotilla was “a purely humanitarian and non-violent mission carrying food and aid to a starving population.” All taken from the Flotilla are still in Israeli custody at time of writing.
Protestors marching towards Dublin Port. Source: Ben McCabe
Protestors left Kildare Street chanting “Free Free Palestine” and “Shut it down,” heading towards Dublin Port where they began to block roads entering and exiting the port. This resulted in a number of road closures including that of the southbound Port Tunnel. The protestors remained for over four hours before members of the Garda public order unit physically removed them. Videos from the protest show Gardaí carrying activists off of the roads despite resistance. “It is important to note that [Gardaí] divided groups and cautioned many to leave before violently harassing a smaller group,” Jessica Dunne said. “When we come out in bigger numbers it prevents them from being able to target people violently.”
Dunne added that they “target[ed] the ports because it directly impacts Maersk who are directly shipping weaponry to Israel,” as reported by The Ditch in April. They described a variety of responses from non-protestors at the port: “Many cheered for us or joined our efforts but of course many of the dock workers felt inconvenienced and let us know.” Parroting the words of one of the speakers at the blockade, they added “We understand this is inconvenient for you, but the people of Gaza are starving, we can handle a brief inconvenience.”
Statement from Simon Harris. Source: Irish Foreign Ministry on Twitter
Shortly following the interception of the Sumud Flotilla, The Irish Foreign Ministry said that their “focus now is on assisting citizens immediately impacted and their families” and that “the safety of [Irish] citizens remains our priority.” On Friday morning, Tánaiste Simon Harris provided an update on those in Israeli custody, stating that an embassy team is on-site at the detention facility to provide support. Dunne expressed that they hope the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is doing everything they can for those held by Israel, but added: “While the Irish government continues to do business with Israel and while they allow weaponry to be shipped through our airports and ferryports, they are still condoning the actions of the Zionist entity and directly profiting from them.”
Israeli Security Minister Ben Gvir has since described those who were aboard the flotillas as “terrorists” and stated that, rather than being deported, they should be jailed. One definition of terrorism as outlined in the United Nations International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism (1999) states that a terrorist act is one “intended to cause death or serious bodily injury to a civilian […] when the purpose of such act, by its nature or context, is to intimidate a population” which in no way aligns with the stated aims of the Sumud Flotilla or those on board.
Catherine Connolly, when speaking outside Leinster House on Thursday, described Sumud, after which the captured Flotilla was named, as a “Palestinian concept for individual and collective resistance.” She said that “it represents the collective will of the Palestinian people as they are undergoing genocide to remain connected to their language, their culture, and their community. That is in some form an act of resistance.” She urged attendees to stand with the Palestinian people, and stated that there is an obligation on everyone to stop the genocide.
Poster for the IPSC’s demonstration. Source: Irelandpsc on Instagram.
The Ireland Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) is set to hold a demonstration at 12:30pm on October 4th at the Garden of Remembrance, marking two years of Israel’s genocide.
