The Union of Students in Ireland is calling on students and members of the public to join a demonstration outside Leinster Housing this evening (Wednesday) to support a Dáil motion calling for Ireland to support South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice against the genocide in Gaza.
USI has co-organised the protest at 5.30pm today, along with the Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and other civil groups, to back the motion being put forward by the Social Democrats today.
Thousands are expected to turn out for the demonstration, which will be addressed by TDs and speakers from the organising groups, as well as by Irish actor Liam Cunningham who will recite a poem by renowned Palestinian poet, Refaat Alareer, who was killed in the Israeli attacks on Gaza in December.
The motion calls on the Government to ‘take its obligations under the genocide convention seriously and support South Africa in its efforts to stop a genocide in Gaza by intervening in the case at the ICJ as a matter of urgency at the earliest possible opportunity’.
It quotes Article 1 of the Genocide Convention, which places an obligation on State parties to the Genocide Convention – which Ireland is – to take measures to prevent genocide.
Additionally, it is noted that the Ireland has previously acted on its obligation under Article 1, filing an intervention in support of a case taken by Ukraine against Russia in 2022, under the Genocide Convention.
Speaking ahead of the protest, USI Vice President for Campaigns, Zaid Al-Barghouthi said: “We call on our members to mobilise and turn out to show our support for this motion. We have a moral duty to do everything we can to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, and in this context, we view an intervention by Ireland in South Africa’s ICJ case as a step that would bring us closer to that objective. Students have been active voices in the calls for a ceasefire, and for sanctions to be placed on the State of Israel for unleashing a genocide on the people of Gaza.”
IPSC Vice-Chairperson, Fatin Al Tamimi said: “We are urging the Irish government to support South Africa’s brave and principled stance at the ICJ. The Irish people stand firmly with the Palestinian people, the Irish government needs to reflect the public’s will.”