Michelle O'Neill heckled by pro-Gaza demonstrators at Derry festival

Stormont First Minister Michelle O’Neill was heckled at an event in Derry last night by pro-Palestine protesters. 

Speaking at a ‘Women and Leadership’ interview on Thursday night as part of the YES festival at St. Columb’s Hall.

Ms. O’Neill was joined at the event by the deputy First Minister, Emma Little-Pengelly of the DUP.

Taking part in a discussion with author and columnist Martina Devlin, the pair were interrupted by members of the Derry branch of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC).

Directing criticism at the Sinn Féin vice president for attending St. Patrick’s Day events at the White House in Washington, D.C.

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One of the protesters stood and stated figures published by the United Nations in February revealed 17,000 children in Gaza have been left unaccompanied or separated from their families as a result of the ongoing conflict in Palestine following Israel’s invasion.

The Derry branch of IPSC has shared a video on Instagram of their confrontation with Michelle O’Neill. 

And they have since made a statement on their Facebook page following the incident.

It said: “The Derry IPSC tonight challenged the First and Deputy First Minister on their attendance of St. Patrick's Day in the White House despite the campaign to boycott President Biden because of what the group call his'complicity in genocide.’ 

“We promised the thousands of Derry people who attend our events and support our campaigning that we would hold those who put their own selfish agenda first in a time of genocide to account.

“It's ironic that the political leadership of this place were there to talk about female empowerment. Do the women and girls of Gaza murdered by US bombs not qualify for their version of'empowerment?'

“We will never allow genocide to be normalised.”

Sinn Féin provided the following statement when asked for comment. 

A spokesperson said: "What is happening in Gaza is the gravest human rights violation of our time, and it is a genocide.

"Sinn Féin demands an immediate, unconditional and complete ceasefire. 

"World leaders, especially the United States, face a choice - stand by international law, human rights, and justice - or stand by the savagery of Israel.

"The resolution of conflict is in peace negotiations leading to a viable Palestinian state, and peace must now be the shared will of the international community."