A Public Meeting held on Saturday last (July 24) in Donegal Town's Central Hotel heard in-depth eye witness accounts of the Israeli attack on the Gaza Aid Flotilla on May 31.
Fiachra O'Luain from Inishowen in County Donegal and Cork native Fintan Lane, who were on board the Challenger 1, recounted in detail their experiences when Israeli commando's stormed their boat. They spoke at length of witnessing the attack on the Mavi Marmara which resulted in the murder of nine of their colleagues on the Flotilla and outlined how they themselves and their colleagues were assaulted and brutalised by their Israeli captors on the boat and in Israel while in captivity.
Fiachra O'Luain Addresses Public Meeting-Donegal Town July 24 2010 from éirígí Sligeach on Vimeo.
Fiachra O'Luain Addresses Public Meeting-Donegal Town July 24 2010 from éirígí Sligeach on Vimeo.
Fintan, who was speaking on behalf of the Free Gaza Movement (FGM) which organised the Flotilla, also outlined the organisations plans for another Aid Flotilla during the Autumn. He said that pressure must not just be maintained, but intensified, in order to support the people of Gaza and to bring the inhumane and illegal siege of the area to an end.
Following the accounts given by Fiachra and Fintan, a lively question and answer session took place, particularly relating to how people in Donegal and other parts of Ireland could help the Palestinian people in their ongoing struggle for justice and freedom. Amongst the topics discussed was the ongoing campaign of Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions (BDS) against Israel as well as the next Gaza Aid Flotilla and how individuals could assist in terms of finance and raising the issue in the media.
The North West Forum's Jim McLaughlin, who chaired the meeting, said that another public meeting was planned for Donegal town at the start of September. For more information check out www.ipsc.ie or phone 087 9730539
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