Hundreds protest in Belfast against Israeli attack on Gaza flotilla
An estimated 300 protesters gathered outside Belfast City Hall today in response to the Israeli attack on a flotilla headed for Gaza.
The demonstration, which was called only hours earlier, drew a crowd of approximately 300 protesters. Several political parties and solidarity groups were represented. Speakers included John Hurson who entered Gaza in January 2010 as part of an overland convoy.
At the time of the protest, reports suggested that between 10 and 19 people had been killed and 30 injured by Israeli forces.
A number of Irish nationals are known to be travelling in the flotilla.
One of the six boats, the MV Rachel Corrie, had sailed from Ireland to Cyprus to rendezvous with the rest of the flotilla. It was not with the other ships at the time of the attack however.
In a radio interview via satellite phone on Monday evening Denis Halliday, a former UN Assistant Secretary General and a passenger on-board the MV Rachel Corrie, estimated their position as two to three days’ sailing time from Gaza.
Earlier on Monday, Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin, stated that what had happened was “a direct result of Israel’s illegal blockade of Gaza”.
Dubbed the Freedom Flotilla, this was the ninth such journey organised by the Free Gaza Movement. The six boats were to carry 600 passengers and 10,000 tonnes of material to the intended destination of Gaza.
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