An 11-day relay walk from South Kerry to Leinster House concluded with a large rally at the Dáil on Tuesday, September 24, where participants delivered a petition calling for political action in enacting the Occupied Territories Bill. The event marked a powerful moment of solidarity and protest.
The Occupied Territories Bill, introduced by Senator Frances Black in January 2018, aims to ban imports from illegal settlements in occupied territories around the world. Although it received broad political backing, the bill has yet to be enacted.
In July 2024, the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion confirming that Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories are illegal under international law. The European Union has also affirmed that the settlements are illegal and pose a serious threat to peace and the possibility of a two-state solution.
Despite these rulings, Ireland’s continued trade with the settlements is seen by many as support for war crimes.
Independent Senator Frances Black spoke at Tuesday’s rally, highlighting the worsening crisis in Palestine.
“Since I introduced the Occupied Territories Bill, the situation has only grown more dire,” she said. “While the world watches the devastating war in Gaza, we’re also seeing a massive land grab in the West Bank—homes destroyed, families displaced, and illegal settlements expanding. We cannot continue to call this illegal while trading in goods produced there. This hypocrisy must end.”
Joining her on stage were Martin O’Quigley, Director of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC), and human rights advocate Caoimhe Butterly, who has spent 25 years working with refugees and as a volunteer in Gaza and the West Bank.
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Uplift campaigner Ross McGann also addressed the crowd, emphasising the importance of standing against injustice. Referring to Uplift’s member-funded report on Irish-Israeli trade, he urged the government to take firm action: “We are here today to stand with humanity and to demand meaningful action from the Irish government.”
The rally also featured musical performances. Artists Martin P. Leahy and George Murphy took to the stage, followed by Blue Niall and Talha Wise Wolf who performed their new song ‘Le Cúnamh na Déithe & In Shaa Allah’, a powerful blend of Irish, English, and Arabic that underscored the deep connection between Ireland and Palestine.
Protesters described the atmosphere as deeply emotional. Brendán O’Caoimh, one of the participants, told GCN, “This has been a very emotional and significant day.”
We are here outside Dáil Éireann in solidarity with @ipsc48, please sign the petition below if you haven’t yet! 👇https://t.co/0QCYqHgyAa pic.twitter.com/KVsl5Y23sD
— Gay Community News (@GCNmag) September 24, 2024
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