Best International Documentary | Defend the GPO and Save Moore St. | A Week in the Life and Death of GAZA

 

Best International Documentary

I spent the weekend in Galway and Mayo. The weather wasamazing. The countryside with its miles of stone walls separating plots of landand the lush colours of green and rocky inclines was a joy to travel through.

I was in Galway on Saturday to attend the Galway FilmFestival/Fleadh where Trisha Ziff’s film – A Ballymurphy Man - was receivingits world premiere. The cinema in the old Town Hall where the Festival iscentred was packed to capacity for the screening. The audience was hugelyattentive and very welcoming when Trisha and I went on the stage at the end ofthe screening to talk about the making of the documentary.

The next day I was in Mayo when Trisha text me to say that‘A Ballymurphy Man’ had taken the Festival award for Best InternationalDocumentary. So well done Trisha and her team who worked hard over five years,with very limited funding to produce this film.

In Mayo I met Martin Neary, who has bequeathed his 40-acrehomestead to the local community. Martin, who is in his 80s, has spent yearsplanting native indigenous trees so that a woodland now stands where there wasonce a farm and bog land. His book – Madogue Memories – tells in his own wordsMartin’s love of land, his community and culture, his county and our countryand his republican and socialist ideals. It was an honour to meet such aninspiring leader and a great privilege to plant an oak tree - a Crann naSaoirse - in the Martin Neary Woodland Park.

 

Defend the GPO and Save Moore St.

There is widespread anger at the decision by the Irishgovernment to convert the historic GPO in Dublin into shops and offices. LastSaturday hundreds gathered in O’Connell St. to protest at the government’splans for the GPO and for the Moore St. Battlefield site. Their demand is forthe protection of the cultural and revolutionary heritage of this part ofDublin.

Every nation that fought for its freedom from colonial rule- often from the British - has hallowed ground, the place where patriots made astand against injustice and occupation. For the people of Ireland, the GPO isone such place.  It is the place where the revolutionary generation of theearly 1900s declared for a Republic and where the Pearse read the Proclamationof that republic.

Instead of imposing an ill-thought out plan that will ruinthe iconic nature of this site the Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael government should holda public conversation to agree an imaginative and visionary plan which willreflect the importance of the GPO and Moore St. Properly managed this area canplay a vital part in the regeneration and revitalisation of Dublin City Centre.

Uachtarán Shinn Féin Mary Lou McDonald described Fianna Fáiland Fine Gael’s plan as ‘shameful.’ 

She told the Government: “The regeneration of Dublin must bedriven by the things that really matter to us.  Our history. Our heritage.Pride in those gallant patriots who came before us. This historic area must beredeveloped as a Cultural and Historical Quarter and in line with theMasterplan by the Moore Street Preservation Trust.”

Earlier last week a newly formed Moore St. Oireachtas Groupmade up of elected representatives from North Inner City Dublin, including fromSinn Féin, Fianna Fáil, the Social Democrats and the Labour Party, visitedthe Moore St. 1916 terrace. This is where the revolutionary leaders of 1916 mettogether for the last time before their executions.

The cross-party group recognises the responsibility ofelected representatives to safeguard and preserve, and to act as guardians ofthe National Monument at 14-17 Moore Street, and the streets and lanewaysaround it. The group’s aims are in keeping with the recommendationsof the Ministerial Advisory Group and the findings of the DublinInner City Task Force Report.

The visit was facilitated by the Office of Public Works, andit gave representatives an opportunity to inspect the historic terrace. Afterward Mary Lou McDonald TD said she was “pleased to be joined by myconstituency colleagues. We will work together on this issue. I am concerned atthe state of the buildings and there is an urgent need for remedial work to becarried out.”

 

A Week in the Life and Death of GAZA

I first met Mustafa Barghouti in the west Bank in 2014. TheGeneral Secretary of the Palestine National Initiative is a physician, anactivist, and is head of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society. He is also amember of the PLO and of the Palestinian Legislative Council. He advocates theuse of non-violence and civil disobedience.

In a few weeks’ time, I hope to have the opportunity tointerview Mustafa for a special podcast on the situation in Gaza and the WestBank.

Each day Mustafa sends out a WhatsApp update on news fromthe region. The following is an edited daily diary for the week beginningSunday 6 July to Sunday 13 July.

Sunday 6 July

The Israeli bombardment on Gaza killed 80 Palestinians,including many children, and injured 304 others in the past 24 hours. Among thevictims were 8 civilians who were targeted while trying to receive humanitarianaid. Since October 7, 2023, the total number of casualties has risen to 57,418killed and 136,261 injured.

Monday 7 July

According to Israeli tv channel 12: The Israeli primeminister Netanyahu is proceeding with his plan to evict the whole populationof Gaza Strip from their districts and to concentrate them in anarrow concentration camp between Moraj and Philadelphi/ Rafah corridors tofacilitate their ethnic cleansing.

The Israeli bombardment on Gaza killed 105 Palestinians and injured356 others in the past 24 hours. Among the victims were 7 civilians who weretargeted while trying to receive humanitarian aid.

Tuesday 8 July

The Israeli bombardment on Gaza killed 52Palestinian civilians and injured 262 others. Among the victims were 8civilians who were targeted while trying to receive humanitarian aid.

Wednesday 9 July

The Israeli army destroyed 5 Palestinian houses in Shuqbavillage in Ramallah in the West bank. In Gaza the Israeli bombardmentkilled 105 Palestinian civilians, including many children. Among the victimswere 7 civilians who were targeted while trying to receive humanitarian aid.

Thursday 10 July

A horrible Israeli massacre of Palestinian children andwomen in Deir Albalah in Gaza who were bombarded today while theywere trying to receive baby supplements. 16 civilians were killed including 10children. According to sources in the Palestinian village Rumaneh in Jenin theIsraeli soldiers shot Ahmad Umor injuring him and then ran their car over hisbody killing him. The Jadallah family in khan Younes mourns 5 of its membersincluding 4 children who were killed today by the Israeli bombardment.

Friday 11 July

Israeli terrorist settlers conducted several attacks withlive ammunition and stones on Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. Theyinjured 10 Palestinians in Sinjel town in Ramallah and burned several cars.They also killed by beating and shooting two Palestinians in Sinjel.

Saturday 12 July

The Israeli army committed huge massacres today inGaza. It conducted 250 air strikes on the civilian population killing 120civilian Palestinians and injuring hundreds. According to the UNICEFrepresentative Israel kills 27 Palestinian children every day.

Update: The number of Palestinian civilians killed today byIsrael in Gaza is up to 145.

Sunday 13 July

The Israeli army bombarded this morning a group of civilianPalestinians in Nussairat while they were trying to get drinkingwater killing 10 including 6 children and injuring 20 others. TheIsraeli army bombarded during the last period 122 sources of water in Gazakilling 700 innocent Palestinians seeking water. The Israeli air strikeson Gaza killed the Surgical consultant at the Baptist Hospital Dr. AhmadQandil. More than 1588 medical doctors, nurses and other healthprofessionals were killed in Gaza by the Israeli bombardment since October 7th3023.

It is worth noting that since Israel ended the ceasefire inMarch twice as many Palestinians have been killed in the five months since thenthan in 30 years of conflict in the North.

Finally, according to the UN Human Rights Office 800Palestinians have been killed since the end of May attempting to receive aid atpoints controlled by the Israeli/US backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund. Havingstripped UNWRA and others of this responsibility Israel is now using aid as afurther weapon in its genocidal slaughter of the Palestinian people of Gaza.