A protest is being organised in Portlaoise for this weekend in solidarity with Palestine where over 200 people have been killed in recent weeks in the latest outburst of violence in the long-running conflict with Israel.
Organised by Naeem Iqbal, a 2019 Local Election candidate, the protesters will gather outside St Peter & Paul’s Roman Catholic Church in Portlaoise at 3pm on Saturday and march on the main road to the Laois County Council building.
Outside the Laois County Council offices the representatives will express their solidarity with the people of Palestine and put their demands to the Irish Government.
The aims of the protest include: raising awareness of the ethnic cleansing happening in Palestine as well as urging the Irish government to pass the occupied territories bill and terminate the status of the Israeli ambassador.
They are also calling for Ireland cease any trade with Israel and ban the purchase of Israeli products and services.
Emaan Sami Khan is a young university student who is actively involved in organising this protest with Mr Naeem Iqbal, who is the Chief Organiser of the event.
Dozens of schools have been damaged or closed, forcing more than 600,000 students to miss classes while some 72,000 Gazans have been forced to flee their homes.
Rocket fire from Palestinian militants has also harmed Israeli infrastructure, damaging a gas pipeline and pausing operations at a gas rig and at two major Israeli airports.
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