The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
Clare Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign Clare (IPSC) is organising another opportunity to catch a free screening of the film GAZA, this time at the Miltown Malbay Community Centre on Tuesday, March 5 at 8pm.
The film which was released in 2019, was directed and produced by two Irish men, Andrew McConnell and Garry Keane. GAZA describes the unique world, rich with eloquent and resilient characters, offering us an inspiring portrait of a people, living with hope and leading meaningful lives against the rubble of perennial conflict between 2014 and 2018.
The award–winning film has real value as a compassionate human document, showing ordinary people who courageously have to keep going, somehow, in what then seemed like the grimmest of conditions, in a world where there is a “wall between the people of Gaza and life itself”. The directors bring us a revealing film showing the common frustration at living an abnormal life, under siege. You will meet, amongst others, a young cellist, a young rapper, a theatre director, a fisherman and his son, a taxi driver and an ambulance driver as they share their stories, daily experiences and their hopes for the future. Simple aspirations, which we might take for granted, are quashed on a daily basis. Knowing that western media and leaders are ignoring their plight, stone throwing seems to be only outlet for youth to express their frustration. The film illustrates how no one in Gaza, 75 years or younger has ever experienced free – something they yearn and dream of.
A vigil and peace march organised by Clare IPSC in Ennis last Saturday marked the twentieth week of the siege of the Gaza Strip and bombardment and ground attacks by Israeli forces.
More than 14,000 children have been killed and according to UNICEF, ‘The entire population is facing dire hunger with at least 335,000 children – that’s every single child under the age of five – at immediate risk of severe acute malnutrition.10,000 of them are already so desperately sick they could die unless they get urgent help.’
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is the largest humanitarian actor in Gaza providing desperately needed humanitarian support. 150 UNRWA staff have been killed by Israeli attacks in the last five months. In January, Israel accused 12 of the 30,000 UNWRA employees, of which 13,000 work in Gaza, of having taken part in the October 7 attacks on Israel. 18 countries including the US, Canada and many EU countries have currently frozen funding which amounts to a $450 million shortfall from a budget of $880 million as it confronts the biggest humanitarian crisis seen in the organisation’s 75-year history. Head of the agency, Philippe Lazzarini, said UNRWA is “at breaking point”. Ireland has not joined the funding freeze, and has committed an extra €20 million to UNRWA.
Wildcard Distribution have waived the license fees for this charity. Admission to the GAZA screening is free, and all donations on the night will go directly to UNWRA to provide financial aid and solidarity so they can continue providing life-saving food, shelter and health services in the Gaza Strip. To donate click here Here
Sharon Dolan D'Arcy
Sharon Dolan D'Arcy is originally from Ennis. Her work as a print journalist has appeared in a number of regional publications. She worked as court reporter at The Sligo Weekender newspaper and is a former editor of The Athenry News and Views. She covers West Clare news.
