Derry rallies against 'ongoing genocide' in Gaza

Upwards of 1,000 people took part in a rally in the city organised by the Derry branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC).

Speakers addressing the crowd in Guildhall Square on Saturday.

The rally, which took place on Saturday - the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls - assembled at Bishop's Gate and finished in Guildhall Square. 

Speaking to Derry Now, Catherine Hutton, Chairperson of Derry IPSC said Saturday's rally was part of the ongoing protests and calling on people to come out in solidarity with the people in Palestine and Gaza, where there is "ongoing genocide".

WATCH: Catherine Hutton (@CaitDoire) Chairperson of Derry IPSC (@ipsc_derry) at Saturday's Derry rally for International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

She said: "Women are being killed [in Gaza] & are suffering violence ... so many women are miscarrying." pic.twitter.com/O1nv8KK8nB

— Derry Now (@DerryNow) November 27, 2023

She added: "And also importantly today, is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and girls. This is what we are highlighting today. We have female speakers, we have women carrying our big banner: 'End the Genocide Now!'

"We want to highlight not just that women are being killed, but also the violence in terms of their reproductive rights, in terms of their personal dignity. There are so many reasons.

"So many women are miscarrying. They reckon there are 150 babies being born every single day. That is what we are trying to get across today," said Catherine Hutton.

Academic and community activist, Goretti Horgan, told Derry Now she was attending the rally to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls.

WATCH: Goretti Horgan from Derry IPSC (@ipsc_derry) at Saturday's Derry rally for International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

She said: "The violence against women & and girls in Gaza at the minute is as extreme as you could get." pic.twitter.com/2dhc4d2SCq

— Derry Now (@DerryNow) November 27, 2023

"Obviously, the violence against women and girls in Gaza at the minute is as extreme as you could get," she added.

"We are here really as part of the Palestinian solidarity campaign across Ireland but particularly to say that war has dreadful effects on women.

"There is the sexual violence. We have seen Palestinian women trying to get from Gaza City down to the south, as they have been told to do, being stripped, stripped naked and strip searched by male soldiers.

"We have seen women having to queue for hours to use the toilet because the need to look after their menstruation. We have seen mothers having caesarean sections without anesthetic. There is no more violence than that," said Goretti Horgan.