'What's going on there today is an atrocity' - Waterford councillors support twin city in Palestine
Waterford is twinned with the West Bank city of Ramallah, Palestine.
Councillors have agreed to write a letter in support of Palestine as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to escalate.
The war in Gaza has claimed the lives of 54,000 Palestinian men, women and children.
Meanwhile, in the Left Bank, where twin city Ramallah is located, Palestinians face persecution from Israeli military.
At the recent Metropolitan meeting, Councillor John Hearne (Sinn Féin) said: "We should write as a Council to express solidarity to the people of Palestine in the time that they're having at the moment because nobody agrees with what's going on. Nobody."
Cllr Hearne linked the impact of colonial violence between Ireland and Palestine: "We had the likes of Cromwell. I think when Cromwell came through, about 44% of our population was wiped out. We lost a million in the Famine.
"I think with the famine coming on in Palestine, I think it's very important we express our solidarity. We did so, rightly, with Ukraine. I know there's a lot we can't do but we can ask our Government parties to bring in sanctions."
Councillor Jim Griffin (Sinn Féin) spoke later about the concept of 'never again'.
"What I would ask, Mayor, is if you could write on behalf of us to the Taoiseach to actually do all in his power to help the people of Gaza and to stop this genocide. I think in years to come we'll be sitting here and thinking 'How did we not even mention it today?'"
He ended: "I think it's important that we mark this because what's going on is an atrocity."
Metropolitan Mayor Joe Kelly (Independent) said that he would get an appropriate response together.
This week, the Dáil defeated a Bill to restrict the Central Bank from having ties to Israeli war bonds. Waterford TDs Mary Butler (Fianna Fáil) and John Cummins (Fine Gael) voted against the bill, while Waterford Deputies David Cullinane and Conor McGuinness (Sinn Féin) voted in favour.
