Pro-Palestine protestors have left the Department of Transport in Dublin after occupying it for several hours this morning.
Around 12 protesters gathered outside the Department’s Leeson Lane headquarters - with a small number entering the building with signs and a Palestinian flag - but were eventually moved on by Gardaí.
The group is urging the Government to prevent the US from using Shannon Airport to send weapons or munitions to Israel.
After Hamas’ attack on Israel last month, US President Joe Biden said America would ensure Israel has “what you need to protect your people [and] to defend your nation.”
A multi-billion dollar package of military aid was announced and the Dublin4Gaza group says it is concerned some of it could be transported via Shannon Airport.
“The Palestinian people have asked for solidarity [and] to stop arming Israel,” Dublin4Gaza spokesperson Jordy Smyth told Newstalk.
“This is a very material way that the Irish people [can] show solidarity with the people of Palestine… So, we’re saying that planes chartered by the US military [carrying weapons and munitions] should not be allowed to stop over in Shannon Airport.
“Minister Eamon Ryan has a direct role in granting these exemptions, so we’re saying he should stop.”
Ms Smyth said some civil servants working the Department spoke to the protesters expressing sympathy with their point of view.
“We’re going to try to get him [Eamon Ryan] to come down and talk to us or send someone to talk to us,” Ms Smyth said before Gardaí asked the group to leave.
“We’re going to stand outside here and just try and make people aware of the Department of Transport’s role in allowing the US Army to use Shannon as a military airbase.”
Exemptions
Under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973, munitions can only be flown through Shannon Airport if an exemption is granted by the Department of Transport - who consult with the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Justice beforehand.
So far this year, 1,026 applications have been made requesting exemptions, of which 997 have been granted, seven have been refused and a further 26 have been cancelled.
Help for Palestine
Since October 7th, the Government has backed Israel’s right to defend itself but been critical of the way the IDF is carrying out its war on Hamas.
"We fully stand over Israel's right to defend itself, condemn the terrorists who attacked their civilians,” Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said after a European Council meeting last month.
"But how the response is conducted is important in terms of future security for the whole region, including here in the European Union… What we want is the killing and the violence to stop so that humanitarian aid can get into Gaza where innocent Palestinian people are suffering.”
The Department of Transport has been contacted for comment.
Main image: Pro-Palestine protest in the Department of Transport.
