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PRO-PALESTINE PROTESTERS are to hold a rally at Shannon Airport today, as they accuse the government of allowing Irish airspace to be used for the transporting of weapons for use in Israel.
The protest, which is organised by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Shannonwatch, is the sixth protest of this kind since October 2023.
The Ditch reported this week that a United Airlines flight illegally transported four ammunition handling systems to Israel through Irish territory.
Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien said in June that his department is reviewing what additional checks the state can carry out to ensure that no weapons destined for Israel are flown through Ireland.
The Tánaiste has said the government needs to do more on the issue.
Speaking ahead of the rally today, IPSC Chairperson Zoë Lawlor said: “The genocidal Israeli regime has killed at least 60,000 people in Gaza, and has now announced its intention to conquer large parts of Gaza in a clear violation of international law.
“None of this is hidden in the shadows – it is live-streamed and announced from every media outlet in the world. And yet Ireland’s sovereign airspace continues to be used to ensure Israel’s genocidal army remains fully armed and ready to massacre 50, 100, 1000 Palestinians at a moment’s notice.
“It’s far beyond time to act. The Irish government must get serious – stop this trade in death now.”
Activists will gather at Shannon Airport at 2pm this afternoon. In previous protests groups occupied the departure halls, a plane was spray painted and a van was driven through a fence on the site.
Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel “will not annex the Gaza Strip” and that it will be left in the hands of a transitional governing body, but he also said Israel intends to take complete control of the territory.
No details were provided about what that governing body would look like.
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