Write a commentFollowing a week where Newry and Mourne ordinary people have contributed greatly to the Newry Gaza Childrens Appeal and Newry and Mourne Council passed a motion at their monthly meeting condemning the "Appalling loss of life in Gaza" Newry and Armagh MP Conor Murphy has praised the generosity from individuals and communities throughout the area for their response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Mr Murphy said "The response to the appeal for aid has been amazing" said the Sinn Fėin MP, and he continued " All items collected will now form part of a shipment organised by Human International that will travel this month to Gaza. I commend those who give to this appeal and thank all those who helped organise the various collection points and Friends of Palestine Shop in Newry.
Newry & Mourne Sinn Féin Councillor Sinead Ennis has said that the passing of the motion was a clear indication of the strong feelings by the vast majority of people from the area about issue.
"No one can ignore nor fail to be moved by the slaughter of innocents taking place in Gaza at the hands of the Israeli military. Each night on our television screens or on twitter or facebook we see images of murdered men, women and especially of children" said the Elected representative who continued
"Since July 8 when the current violence erupted around 1300 Palestinians – 80% of them civilians – have been killed. Three Israeli civilians have been killed".
The Sinn Féin Councillor stated that many opportunities for political progress and peace had been squandered by successive Israeli governments whom she said were "hungry for Palestinian land and water and determined to ensure that Palestinians remain fractured, impoverished and too weak to challenge Israeli aggression".
Concluding Councillor Ennis said that a clear message had been sent from the Newry & Mourne area. "This motion sends a very clear message that the vast majority reject the aggression of Israel and support the Palestinian people in their struggle for freedom and justice and national rights" .
The Motion Adapted by Newry and Mourne District Council
That Newry and Mourne District Council condems, in the strongest possible terms the appalling loss of life in Gaza and calls on the International Community, including the Irish and British Governments, the EU and the UN to intensify its efforts to resolve the situation in Gaza, to help bring about an immediate ceasefire and implement mechanisms to monitor such a ceasefire agreement, to lift the blockade of Gaza and work towards a just and lasting resolution for the peoples of Palestine and Israel.
