‘We are here to listen and understand their concerns,’ says Commission’s Ireland boss.
A group of pro-Palestinian activists gathered Thursday at the European Commission’s offices in Dublin to protest the EU executive’s support for Israel in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
The group, Dublin for Gaza, said Thursday morning they had occupied the offices of the Commission building, holding Palestinian flags and signs calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. The group said they were expressing “their opposition to the open support given to Israel’s campaign of indiscriminate killing in Gaza by the EU Commission.”
A spokesperson for the office confirmed that activists gathered in front of the office and inside the reception area, but Head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland Barbara Nolan said the group did not disrupt working arrangements.
“We fully respect the right of people to protest peacefully,” Nolan said in a statement. “These young people have not disrupted working arrangements and are making their voices heard. We are here to listen and understand their concerns. I have offered to meet with them.”
According to the office’s spokesperson, activists left once the meeting was arranged.
The Commission has come under fire for its steadfast support for Israel in its war with Hamas after Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israel, killing more than a thousand people, which in turn triggered Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, killing nearly 3,500 Palestinians.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was sharply criticized in particular for her recent trip to Israel and for not explicitly calling on the country to respect international law during its retaliation against Hamas.
Dublin for Gaza said it wants an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, for the establishment of a humanitarian aid corridor, for United Nations protection for Palestinians in Gaza and for the end of EU support for Israel.
“Let us be clear — blood is on the hands, not just of the Israeli military and leadership, but on the hands of those states and institutions who have provided cover for these atrocities, such as the European Union,” said Lamia Tadjine, of Dublin for Gaza, in a statement.
Irish far-left MEP Clare Daly, a staunch critic of Israel, said she was “proud” of Dublin for Gaza’s activists occupying the offices while European lawmakers are in Strasbourg “to vote on a shameful Parliament motion that fails to condemn Israel for its ongoing crimes against humanity in Gaza.”
Source: Politico
