Irish artists, activists, politicians and more react to Gaza ceasefire announcement

Prominent voices from across the worlds of Irish music, activism, politics and beyond have shared their reactions to yesterday's news of a ceasefire agreement for Gaza.

The agreement involves the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, as well as ensuring humanitarian aid access to Gaza. The ceasefire was expected to come into effect on Sunday, January 19 – however various media outlets are now reporting that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is 'holding up' the cabinet vote on the deal. He claims that Hamas are backtracking on parts of the deal – an accusation the group denies. Netanyahu now states that the "Israeli cabinet will not convene until the mediators notify Israel that Hamas has accepted all elements of the agreement."

Since news of the ceasefire agreement broke, Israel has continued its strikes on Gaza – with medics there claiming at least 73 were killed overnight.

KNEECAP – who have been outspoken in their support for the Palestinian people since the early days of their career – have taken to social media to point out that, although "a ceasefire is welcome we must not forget what Israel has done."

"They need to be sanctioned and their leadership arrested and prosecuted," their post continues. "They’ve murdered 100,000 people, mostly kids, and left Gaza as an unliveable wasteland. FUCK ISRAEL."

Irish-Palestinian artist Roisin El Cherif shared powerful reflections of her own on Instagram yesterday evening.

"All my tears are for Gaza," she wrote. "For the heroes. The brave men and women who were butchered. For the children who were mutilated. For the people who survived bombs and airstrikes only to die from heart attacks and starvation. Little hearts exploding from anxiety, fear, ptsd and on going stress disorders. 15 months of horror. Gazans you have my tears and my whole heart. We will never forget what they did to you. Grief is the ocean. You are the ocean. Forever Palestine."

She also directed a message to Israel:

"You paralysed, maimed, mutilated, chopped, shredded our children, the future generation of Gaza. You silenced the truth speakers by blasting them to the heavens and their families. You moved Gazans like cattle from one unsafe field to the next. And you lost. You didn’t get rid of the resistance. Because the message of resistance is truth..."

Roisin El Cherif at the Gig for Gaza at 3Arena. 28th of November 2023. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

Izz Cafe, a Palestinian restaurant in Cork, have also posted a video on Instagram in response to the ceasefire announcement.

"After 466 days of slaughter and genocide, a ceasefire is finally here," the restaurant's owner, Izzeddeen Alkarajeh, remarks in the clip. "We at Izz Cafe extend our heartfelt congratulations to the resilient people of Gaza, and we mourn the over 46,000 martyrs – lives cut short, but never forgotten."

He goes on to note that "a long road of healing lies ahead for children left orphaned; for women who are now the backbone of their families; and for everyone returning to find only rubble instead of homes, schools, or hospitals."

"Today we stand united with Gaza, keeping you in our focus, and pledging our support as you rebuild your homes, your schools, and your lives."

 

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The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC), meanwhile, has 'cautiously' welcomed news of the ceasefire.

“We salute the heroism and steadfastness of the Palestinian people who have endured 15 months of unimaginably horrific brutality at the hands of the genocidal apartheid state of Israel and yet remain proud, dignified, and defiant," commented Zoe Lawlor, IPSC Chairperson. "We welcome the news of a ceasefire, and hope that it will be a lasting one that allows Palestinians to rebuild their lives and finally achieve freedom. However, Israel’s track record suggests that this will merely be a temporary lull before it launches another round of colonial violence against the Palestinian people.”

She goes on to state that the announcement should not be used "to let Israel off the hook for the heinous crimes it has committed since October 2023, and before, and which it will undoubtedly continue with unless the impunity it has been granted by the international community is ended.”

Lawlor encourages "all those who have stood, marched, and acted in solidarity with the Palestinian people during this genocide to keep the pressure on" – noting that "sanctions, including an arms embargo, still need to be imposed immediately", and "Israel must be pressured into ending its regime of apartheid and settler colonialism".

Stand for Rafah pro-Palestine demonstration at The Dáil, Dublin. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

In his own official statement, Taoiseach Simon Harris has welcomed the ceasefire "after 15 months of immense human suffering and destruction."

"I hope it will now receive the formal approval of the Israeli government," he remarks – before noting that he also hopes that "all sides will seize this opportunity, fully honouring their commitments, allowing hostages to return to their families and the people of Gaza to begin rebuilding their lives".

“The international community must play its part too, surging aid into Gaza, supporting a renewed Palestinian Authority to bring stability and governance to Gaza, and working to put a process in place that can lead to lasting peace," he continues. “This will only be achieved through a two-state solution, with the State of Israel living in peace and security alongside a sovereign State of Palestine."

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has also welcomed the announcement. In her own statement, she declares that "Israel, with impunity, has committed the most brutal war crimes and human rights violations in full sight of the world."

"There must now be an urgent and drastic increase in the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.”

“The international community must see to it that this is the starting point of a just and lasting peace and the realisation of an independent Palestinian state," she adds. "The primacy of international law must be restored, necessitating the dismantling of Israel’s systems of occupation and apartheid.

“If Israel continues to flout international law, it must face appropriate sanctions. For Ireland this means the passing of the Occupied Territories Bill at the earliest opportunity. Israel must also be held to account for its horrific war crimes."

The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, supported by over 150 Irish civil society organisations, has called another National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday, January 25.

The march begins at the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin at 1pm, and finishes outside the Dáil.