Government urged to take a stand at Gaza medical aid fundraiser in Offaly

He was speaking at a fundraising event  for medical aid for the children of Palestine in John Lee's Bar, Tullamore on Sunday last.

"I am calling on the Taoiseach and other political leaders to firmly stand up for the people  of Gaza.  They should either not go to the White House on St. Patrick's Day as a form of protest or if they do go they should in public call on the US to end their support for Israel to continue this war of savagery against the innocent people  of Gaza.  The people of Ireland utterly condemn this brutal murder of thousands of innocent citizens in Gaza and we have always supported a two state solution which would give the Palestinian  people their own rightful state," stated Cllr O' Brien.

"What we are seeking in Gaza can only be called genocide To date 27.300 people have been officially confirmed dead in Gaza and there are likely  to be thousands more buried in the ruins of buildings all over Gaza.  Unicef has reported that 17,000 children are now wandering about without any known family to care for them. The Israeli army has not shown any respect for civilians.  They indiscriminately  bombed Northern Gaza and advised civilians to move south.  When people moved south they again bombed them there.  There are now one million people gathered near Rafah in the south and the Israeli  Army is now bombing that area as well.  People are living in squalor  with no sanitary facilities or sanitary products," continued Cllr O' Brien.

"They destroyed the ancient Gaza city where 200 buildings of cultural and historical significance have been reduced to rubble, including mosques, cemeteries, museums, the University, hospitals and schools.  Not only are the Israeli Government killing the people but they are also wiping their heritage off the face of the earth.    This is clearly an act of genocide.  I would remind the Prime Minister Netenyahu that he is the prime suspect in this act of genocide.  People are waiting in the long grass for him and I can't  wait to see him on trial for these crimes"

"This event tonight is a sell out and hundreds have contributed online as well.  Well done to David Mallahan, Tullamore For Gaza and John Lee for organising this event which will  raise much needed  money to provide medical  aid to the children of Gaza.  I would also encourage people to donate online to Unicef who are providing assistance  on the ground to people in Gaza," concluded Cllr O' Brien.