The Bloody Sunday trust has stated that Derry is an Anti-Apartheid zone

The Bloody Sunday Trust has urged Derry City and Strabane District Council to use the International Day of Solidarity with Palestine on 29 November as an opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to formally branding the Council area as an anti-apartheid zone. 

Tony Doherty, chair of the Bloody Sunday Trust, said: 

"The issuing of arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity, the use of starvation and the deliberate targeting of medical facilities further criminalises the Zionist apartheid regime. 

"The ICC action follows on from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion, delivered on 19th July this year, that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land, including settlements and their infrastructure, are unlawful and ordered that the occupation must be brought to an end. 

"The ICJ opinion also rules that all states have an “obligation not to recognize as legal the situation arising from the unlawful presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory” and “not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israel’s illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.” 

If international law is to retain any credibility the ICC and ICJ interventions must hasten the ending of the apartheid regime just as international pressure, including sanctions brought an end to apartheid in South Africa. 

Derry will always stand in solidarity with Palestine against the injustices they are facing and has repeatedly expressed support for the right of the Palestinian people to freedom and self determination. 

In support of this unequivocal civic position Derry City and Strabane District Council must now formally take a stand against apartheid in Palestine, and declare itself an apartheid free zone, where this crime, and all those who aid and abet it, will never be welcome. 

Council should furthermore commit to undertake the appropriate due diligence to ensure it is fully complying with the ICJ ruling and to ensure it is not directly or indirectly assisting the illegal occupation of Palestine in any way. 

“We are making this call now in the hope that Council can take action by 30 January 2025. This would be a fitting and very welcome way to mark the anniversary of Bloody Sunday.”

The Bloody Sunday Trust is a member of the Irish Anti-Apartheid Campaign for Palestine, a coalition of Irish civil society organisations, trade unions and academic experts which represents over a million people and is committed to working collaboratively to end Israeli apartheid against Palestinians. 

Bloody Sunday Trust Director Maeve McLaughlin said: 

“We will now be seeking meetings with our elected representatives to generate support for this call. We are sure that the majority of them will back us, but it is important that they bring this support to the council chamber and demand that concrete formal action be taken. 

“Our council should very clearly and very publicly take a stand on this important issue and announce that we are an anti-apartheid zone.”