Belfast “Gaels Against Genocide” Rally Protests Amid Trump’s Plans For Gaza
By Daniel Rankin
A month after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas – and in the midst of a prisoner exchange -, thousands in Belfast took to protest on Saturday with the message “Love Palestine – Grá don Phalaistín“ [1], against recent developments such as Donald Trump’s “no alternative” to Gazan population removal, and Israel’s recent threats in ending the long-awaited ceasefire. [2]
Gaels Against Genocide – a culturally Gaelic and pro-Palestinian group – have been running since the start of the war, one which has left approx. at least 50,000 dead [3], including well over 11,000 children. Figures like these were continually pronounced at the rally by speakers including Gaelic activist Glen Philips and Palestinian Dr. Omar Alshaqaqi,, with comparisons to “stadiums” of people, showing the sheer enormity of human loss. Oxfam and Action on Violence reported that the Israeli military had killed more women and children in Gaza than in any other conflict around the world in the past twenty years. [4]
The rally itself started at Writer’s Hall before making a march towards Belfast City Hall, accompanied by music, drums and chants of “free Palestine.“ Political presence included SDLP and People Before Profit, with the former notably represented by West Belfast councillor Paul Doherty, and the latter by MLA Gerry Carroll of Belfast West.
GAG employ Gaelic culture across language, sport and music, all of which could be seen or heard at the rally on Saturday. Irish-language and GAA clubs’ signs were visible almost everywhere at the City Hall. Music included “Fields of Palestine” adapted from the Irish “…of Athenry”, while dancing encompassed both Irish and Dabke (traditional Palestinian) dances, with the atmosphere living up to one of ghrá as well as one of political opposition.
The protests have an inevitable reference to Trump, who in the past fortnight has expressed his interests in “owning” Gaza, with it being “handed over” by Israel at the end of the conflict. “Gaza is not a place to be living”. [5] Furthermore, the fragility of the recent ceasefire is at play, with many speakers emphasising the continuously close relationship between Netanyahu and an incendiary Trump, and with “hawkish” Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Israel on the weekend [6]
The Gown interviewed Michael Doherty, and Brian Mac An tSionnaigh, both GAG organisers, on the protests. Mr. Doherty spoke on the organisations goals:
What are the goals of Gaels Against Genocide as both a project in general, and specifically in Belfast here today?
We started up 15 months ago, when the genocide was still taking place. We’ve had Gaels across the 32 counties, we’ve been having demonstrations in Belfast we’ve people I haven’t seen in 30-40 years, who I had actually been at university with myself; it was unbelievable. Why don’t we set up a specific organisation? Because we’re Gaels, from Tyrone, Down, Fermanagh, from all over, and we decided to come together, and start organising events, to try and highlight the genocide, and try and get more and more people on the streets. We actually, during last February at our first demonstrations, had about 8 or 9 thousand people; we didn’t think it was possible. As times move on, you have people asking that, as there’s a ceasefire, is there a need to be on the street? I think there’s even more of a need to be on the street now. Because you can see, with Netanyahu, and with Trump together, there’s every likelihood they’re going in, with Trump’s statement this week, of what he intends to do with ethnic cleansing in Gaza.
We’re at the stage where Trump is openly expressing population removal, even though he was silent during his presidential run. First, what do you think of the international reactions to this? Second, how do you aim to make such ideas intolerable again?
Do we have the rule of law anymore? Does international law account for anything anymore? Does the United Nations account for anything anymore? There used to be a world order where the likes of the United Nations was respected. The fact that Israel can go in, and kill 18,000 children and 10,000 women, defensive people who weren’t involved in anything at all; they’ve been murdered, and nothing’s been done by the international rule of law. We saw international courts saying what they were going to do in terms of Netanyahu, but at the end of the day, he was practically the first person to be welcomed at the White House. What message does that send?
We also believe that there should be no Irish political and civic leaders in the White House. This is not an attack on any political party – I don’t believe that any Irish political or civic group should be going out there.
Mr. Mac An tSionnaigh, an Gaelic activist and Irish speaker, spoke on the protests:
Sílim raibh sé tabhachtach duit gur rud le páirteach léirithe an amháin ó dhaoine i mBéal Feirste, ach daoine gach áit timpeall na tíre anseo. Chonaic muid scaifte ó Bhaile Átha Cliath Dún na nGall Doire Tyrone, go háirithe, bhí slua mór orm agus sílim go léiríonn sé cé chomh dlúth agus atá an ghluaiseacht foilsithe na palaistíne anseo in éirinn
I think it was important to people to be part of something like protests not only people in Belfast, but people from all over the country here. We saw people from Dublin, Donegal, Derry, and Tyrone in particular, and had a large crowd and I think it shows how close the Palestinian movement is here in Ireland.
What should people learn about Palestine in recent weeks, re. Israeli threats to ending the ceasefire?
To sílim go léiríonn an. Más maith leat sos cogaidh fíor chur ar cé nár tharla sé agus ní dheachaigh sé faoi aimsir na nótaí, ach go léiríonn sé an chumhacht atá ag na Stáit Aontaithe margadh agus ag iosrael an comhlachas timpeall an domhain agus sílim go léiríonn sé cé chomh tábhachtach is atá sé ag seasamh uilig.
I think that it shows. If you want a real ceasefire, even though it didn’t happen and it didn’t happen during the time of the notes, but it shows the power that the United States has in the market and Israel in the association around the world, and I think it shows how important it is for everyone to take a stand.
With Gaels Against Genocide still very much active after the end of outright war, it is unpredictable as to what could happen to local and international activism in the coming weeks, giving the claimed fragility of the ceasefire. Still, organisations like GAG have made their commitment to continue their activism during another stage of American and Israeli collaboration, and they make no sign of stopping.
References
[1] “Hundreds gather for pro-Palestine march in Belfast”, Irish News, 16th Feb 2025. https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/hundreds-gather-for-pro-palestine-march-in-belfast-3WLRJAISIVHBTAI4OOGCLPABSQ/
[2] Federman, J., Metz, S., “Netanyahu threatens to resume fighting in Gaza if hostages aren’t released Saturday”. Associated Press, 12th Feb 2025. https://apnews.com/article/israel-netanyahu-troops-beefed-up-ceasefire-39533292445c3fe25d0d2d460439305d
[3] Farge, E., Al-Mughrabi, N., “Gaza death toll: how many Palestinians has Israel’s offensive killed?”. Reuters, 15th Jan 2025. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/how-many-palestinians-has-israels-gaza-offensive-killed-2025-01-15/
[4] “More women and children killed in Gaza by Israeli military than any other recent conflict”. AOAV, 1st Oct 2024. https://aoav.org.uk/2024/more-women-and-children-killed-in-gaza-by-israeli-military-than-any-other-recent-conflict-oxfam-and-aoav-report/
[5] Roth, A., “Trump says Palestinians have ‘no alternative’ but to leave Gaza”. The Guardian, 4th Feb 2025. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/04/trump-netanyahu-gaza
[6] “Rubio expected to push Trump plan to displace Palestinians from Gaza on trip to Israel”. The Guardian, 16th Feb 2025. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/16/rubio-expected-to-push-trump-plan-to-displace-palestinians-from-gaza-on-trip-to-israel
Credit: All images ©Danny Hazley Photography
