Very ‘un-Irish’ to deny GAA Palestine visas to children

The Cavan Branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign have said that they were “really disappointed” that the GAA Palestine group’s visas to come to Ireland have been rejected.

“It was a really good opportunity just to give some children an opportunity to enjoy themselves and practice a sport that they had been playing against all odds,” said the secretary of Cavan IPSC Megan De Siún.

“It seemed very un-Irish to deny them the opportunity to do that.”

The group had supported the group with “a lot” of initiatives for their trip taking place “locally”.

“From my understanding the people in the West Bank had provided absolutely everything they needed to and more and there were some concerns about thirty children being accompanied by twelve adults,” she said, however added that these concerns “never seem to be an issue” when it comes to Erasmus or school trips from abroad.

The group was due to travel to Ireland on July 18 to take part in a GAA camp and attend the All-Ireland hurling final last weekend, among various others activities organised by hosts around the country.

However, just over one week before they were due to arrive, organisers received an email saying their application to enter Ireland had been denied.

The club executive members, including chairperson Stephen Redmond, travelled to Ireland to lead his appeal against the Department of Justice. However, after two days of campaigning they were directed to an appeals process, which would not be complete in time. The club took the difficult decision to cancel their tour, citing that “time has run out to make alternative arrangements”.

“We are profoundly upset for all our GAA Palestine members, for the clubs that went to great lengths to organise this meaningful trip, and for the families who generously volunteered to host our touring party.”

On the issue, the Department of Justice stated: “confirming that appropriate child protection requirements are in place is essential when considering visa applications for minors.”

However, the club executive maintained that all documentation requested was provided. The group is currently carrying out their camp in Amman in Jordan.

Meanwhile, data released by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) in May of this year showed that the Gaza Strip is confronted with a critical risk of famine.

The IPC is a body, which classifies and analysis food security in a country, and determines the severity and magnitude of acute and chronic food insecurity, and acute malnutrition situations.

The entire population in Gaza is facing high levels of acute food insecurity, with half a million people (one in five) facing starvation, their key results stated.

Predictions from May 11 to September this year show that the whole territory is classified as an emergency situation, with the entire population expected to face crisis situations “or worse acute food insecurity”.

Four hundred and seventy thousand people, 22% of the population face a catastrophe situation, with dire conditions detected by the organisation in the area. In Rafah, the organisation stated there is “scarce evidence” due to “limited” or “no humanitarian access”.

The IPC stated: “With the announced expansion of military operations throughout the Gaza Strip, the persistent inability of humanitarian agencies to access populations in dire need, an anticipated escalation in hostilities, and the continued mass displacement of people, the risk of Famine in the Gaza Strip is not just possible - it is increasingly likely.”

Megan described the situation as “preventable” and “man-made”.

In recent weeks, UN agencies have recorded nearly 900 deaths of desperate and hungry Gazans as they try to collect food.

“While there is potentially aid, getting to it is a deadly act,” the Cavan IPSC secretary described.

“There certainly isn’t enough aid in Gaza currently to deal with the population,” she said, adding that there is aid sitting at borders “waiting”.

“Everything that’s going on with the starvation is completely preventable and avoidable but Israel is not allowing food or aid in,” she stated.

Meanwhile in Cavan, the group are continuing their monthly demonstration outside Cavan courthouse, which takes place on the last Saturday of every month at 12pm.

“It’s been really wonderful to see it growing every single month. It started with just a couple of people at the start of the year and now we’re seeing tens and twenties showing up each month.

“It’s getting bigger and louder because I think people are getting more and more desperate to do something.”

They host the demonstration to have a “public presence” to the passersby, where more people can see their support for the Palestinian people.

The group believe Ireland’s elected officials could be “taking the lead from Spain” who are doing “everything they can economically to show their disgust at what’s going on”.

“They could be putting sanctions on Israeli goods, they could finally enact the Occupied Territories Bill.”

Megan also stated they could “divest” from Israeli war bonds.

The group will also be hosting a Palestinian embroidery workshop as part of culture night and asked those interested to keep an eye on their social media for more details.