Mayo groups praised for highlighting Palestine humanitarian crisis

A MAYO elected representative has praised the efforts of people throughout Mayo in holding weekly vigils to highlight the humanitarian crisis in Palestine.

Sinn Féin Councillor Gerry Murray said the campaign across the county and nation is focused on putting pressure on America.

He stated: “It's a question of 'praise the Lord and pass the ammunition', that is essentially what America is doing.

"I think the campaign needs to focus not just here, but throughout Europe and globally, on American embassies, in my view.

"Bring the pressure to bear on the people in the White House to stop the supply of weapons and ammunition into Israel, that's the problem.”

In an interview with the Irish Independent, he also criticised the EU’s inaction.

The Charlestown-based representative explained: “No one in the EU wants to take any real action, for all intents and purposes.

"They’re saying a lot of things, but there’s no real action being followed through and no real sanctions against Israel.

"We need to focus on America, they are prolonging the war by giving Israel more and more weapons, bombs, and ammunition. It’s beyond words, I’m lost for words.”

He added that the EU’s considerable influence as a trading bloc could play a key role, but so far its leadership has been lacking.

“It's a very dangerous scenario, but the EU has enormous power, it's a huge trading bloc. You have India and Asia, who would follow suit if Europe gave leadership on this matter, which they have not done.”

Councillor Murray warned that the conflict will inevitably end, but at a terrible human cost.

“This war will end and when it does end, a lot of people will have died unnecessarily.

"There is only one solution, and that is the two-state solution.

“Since the 1967 war, there has been a gradual occupation and taking over of Palestinian settlements, and that has to stop.

“We are a small nation, but we are a unique nation. If you take the vast majority of the native countries, they are all former imperial powers. Germany, Portugal, Spain, The Netherlands, Britain.

"All of these have been former imperial powers. We would have a much different outlook as a country,

“We were never occupiers, we were always occupied, therefore we are able to identify and relate to the plight of the Palestinians.”