‘We are forever with you and will never abandon you’ - Gaels against Genocide group stage major protest in Belfast

A major demonstration was held in Belfast city centre on Saturday as part of an event organised by the Gaels against Genocide group.

Marching with Palestinian banners towards Belfast City Hall, speakers voiced their anger about the ongoing Israeli military action in Gaza which has killed an estimated 37,400 people.

An end to the conflict remains unlikely in the near future, with tension also remaining on the Israeli side with around 120 hostages still being held in Gaza since the October 7 massacre in southern Israel by Hamas fighters which killed 1,200 people.

The protest organisers commented: “Gaels Against Genocide from every county on this island heard the call to rally and demand a permanent ceasefire and an end to the occupation of Palestine and showed up in huge numbers at the National March in Belfast.”

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One speaker told the crowd from a stage: “We want to send a message to the oppressed and dispossessed people of Palestine.

“We see you, we will forever be with you and we will never abandon you.”

Attending the event was People Before Profit MLA for West Belfast, Gerry Carroll, who said his constituency was “probably the most pro-Palestine area in Europe”.

He added: “As Israel continues the slaughter, the demands remain the same: expel the ambassador, sanction Israel, and put pressure on America because Joe Biden could end this madness with one phone call.”

Many GAA members also attended the event, with several prominent current and former players urging people to attend as well as vocal support from musicians Christie Moore, Frances Black and Damien Dempsey.

There had been criticism from the march organisers, however, of Antrim GAA chiefs over claims they had refused to circulate a poster promoting the event.

On the same day as the March, Palestinian officials said that at least 39 people were killed by Israeli airstrikes across northern Gaza.

It came a day after reports that at least 25 people were killed in strikes on tent camps and 50 wounded near the southern city of Rafah.

Meanwhile, there has been widespread condemnation of the Israeli military after video emerged of an injured man strapped to the front of an IDF truck in the West Bank. The IDF, which confirmed the incident, was accused of using the man as a human shield.