RISE for Palestine Summer Solidarity Souk / Market in An Culturlánn
RISE for Palestine Derry has raised more than £30,000 for partner Gaza Ground Aid Ireland
Since the announcement of what it described as the “so-called ceasefire” in Palestine in October 2025, Gaza has “become all but invisible” according to the Derry organisation RISE for Palestine Derry.
Speaking to The Derry News, chairperson Catherine Hutton said: “In reality, the bombing, shooting, killings and suffering is continuing.
“Since July 2025, RISE for Palestine Derry has raised more than £30,000 for our partner Gaza Ground Aid Ireland. This has enabled the provision of tents, food, clothing, support for breastfeeding mothers and newborn packages, all of which has been donated by the generous people of Derry, Strabane and Donegal,” she added.
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“The need is huge and we continue this work with fundraising events such as our Car Boot / Vinted Event in Shantallow Community Centre on Saturday, August 1, from 10.30am until 3.00pm, and our Summer Solidarity Souk / Market in An Culturlánn, Great James Street on Saturday, August 15, from 11.00am until 3.30pm, which is part of Feile Derry.
“We also work hard to raise awareness of the dire conditions in Gaza and also the West Bank of Palestine, where people are being ethnically cleansed daily, through our social media and interaction with schools and community groups.
Palestinians in Gaza do not know if today will be their last day
“It is getting harder and harder to get people to engage. The mainstream media has moved on. We hope by sharing Tamer Ahmed’s story we can encourage people to speak out, challenge perceptions about Israel’s genocide in Gaza and engage with us to learn more about our work.
“That is why we are sharing the powerful words of Tamer Nahed, a journalist from Gaza. For the people living through this genocide, it is worse now than during the height of the Israeli bombings. 70% of Gaza has been annexed by Israel and there is only a fraction of the humanitarian aid needed getting in. Israel is destroying whatever infrastructure is left,” said Ms Hutton.
She added: “Publicising Tamer Ahmed’s testimony is essential because Palestinians in Gaza do not know if today will be their last day. Everything that sustains life is being destroyed by Israel.”
Tamer Ahmed wrote: “I am writing these words to you from inside Gaza City, and I say this with complete honesty: the situation has become extremely dangerous, perhaps worse than ever before.
“Temperatures continue to rise, and the tents have turned into real ovens. More than 170,000 tents across Gaza City are sheltering thousands of families in conditions that are impossible to describe. Inside these tents, temperatures exceed 50°C (122°F). There is no electricity, no fans, no air conditioning, and none of the basic necessities needed to survive,” he added.
“The tents are packed tightly together, with almost no space between them. Many families are forced to leave their tents and sit in the streets because remaining inside has become unbearable.
“Water is desperately scarce, and the extreme heat is making thirst even more severe, and this is only the beginning of summer. Every day, I see the effects of the intense heat on children’s bodies: heat rashes, exhaustion, and suffering while insects emerging from the ground make life even harder.
“The coming days could be even more devastating if these conditions continue. The tents are no longer places of shelter; they have become another source of danger.
“Please don’t let these families be forgotten. Speak about them. Write about them. Share their stories with others. Keep their voices alive and let the world know what is happening. Behind every tent is a family struggling to survive. They need to be seen, they need to be heard, and they need your solidarity.”
Donations to Gaza Ground Aid can be made via this link: https://chuffed.org/project/190453-gaza-new-baby-fund-gaza-ground-aid?fbclid=IwZnRzaATYAiBwZG9mBWZkaWQWULiU9Lnd4RwMmhYsLMCh9bn3tNcmomV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR4Rsv8IQXGzT4dYHFTwstFdM77wqbfds8MSVc9fKX2ft4UHQiuz8SDjOvuZng_aem_CYfXLfj7LEjn8etxkGVFxw&utm_id=97757_v0_s00_e0_tv2_a1den1nnhsoy9p