Kairos Ireland – May Newsletter

Nakba Day

Nakba Day is marked on the 15th May. Nakba translates into English as ‘catastrophe’ and recalls the events of 1948 when three quarters of a million Palestinians were expelled from their homes by Zionist militias.  This event was a planned instance of ethnic cleansing to make way for the establishment of the state of Israel. Over five hundred Palestinian villages were subsequently demolished and trees were planted over the ruins. Palestinian human rights organisations remind us that the Nakba continues today with the ongoing theft of Palestinian lands, the expansion of illegal Israeli Jewish settlements and violence against Palestinians, including killings by soldiers and by civilian settlers who have been armed by the Ministry of Security under the right-wing politician, Itamar Ben-Gvir. In recent days we have seen images of settlers destroying relief supplies destined for Gaza and trucks being set on fire while the Israeli authorities stood by.

Assault on Rafah

Israel is currently continuing its bombardment and ground assault on the southern Gazan city of Rafah despite international calls not to do so.  Even Israel’s closest allies, the USA and the UK have strongly criticised this move. Three Palestinian human rights organisations have published an open letter warning against another massacre in Rafah. One of the signatories of this letter, Shawan Jabarin, was recently awarded an Alumni Award for Law, Public Service and Society from the Irish Centre for Human Rights, University of Galway. It is well worth hearing Shawan speak directly about the motivation for his work as the director of Al Haq. Shawan has been detained under the Israeli ‘administrative detention’ system, where people are held without charge or legal process. Currently there are thousands of Palestinian detainees being held in appalling conditions by the Israeli military. Released detainees speak about sleep deprivation, beatings, stress positions and inadequate food and water.

National Demonstration for Palestine

The next national demonstration for Palestine takes place this Saturday, the 18th May, in Dublin. As usual the march assembles at the Garden of Remembrance at 1pm.