'Maintain the Struggle for Palestinian Freedom' - Derry Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign 

The Irish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) Derry has welcomed Derry City and Strabane District Council's call for the immediate expulsion of the Israeli Ambassador from Ireland, in response to ongoing violence and oppression in Palestine.

Speaking to Derry Now, the group's chairperson, Catherine Hutton said: "We welcome the principled stand taken by our council in regards to this. 

"Derry IPSC has organised a rally at Free Derry Corner on Sunday (October 29) at 3.00pm to call for an end to the genocidal policies of the Israeli State. 

"The situation in Gaza is dire. At the time of writing almost 7000 Palestinians have lost their lives this year as a result of actions by the Israeli military. We are witnessing ethnic cleansing on an industrial scale. The IPSC supports the calls for an immediate ceasefire but we reject any notion that there is a war between comparable armies. 

Israel is a nuclear power. It has one of the largest armies in the world. Almost every weapon they have in their armoury comes from the US or Britain.We reject the notion that Israel is engaged in a legal right of self defence. Under international law there is no clauses for vengeance, collective punishment, or ethnic cleansing," said Ms Hutton.

Catherine Hutton added that the actions of the Israeli State were "genocidal and the countries supporting them are breaking international humanitarian law".

She added: "The powerful have chosen their side. They take the side of the oppressor therefore it is ever more crucial for ordinary people to come out to support the oppressed. 

"We must and will stand for Gaza. We support international law and call on the International Criminal Court to move against Israel and her allies for their egregious breaches of it. 

"Derry people know right from wrong. We know what it is like to be oppressed. To have our loved ones gunned down. We are all Palestinians."