Rosie joining national fast for Palestine day

Rosie joining national fast for Palestine day

4 December 2024

A LOCAL woman will join a national fast for Palestine next week.

On Thursday, December 12, Rosie Maguire from Ballyhornan will undertake a 24-hour fast next Thursday to highlight what she described as a “continuing genocide which has been taking place for over a year”.

Rosie accused Israel of deliberately blocking humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, leading to starvation and disease.

 “People are being misled, and I wanted to do what I could to bring the matter into the public domain, once more,” said Rosie.

“I felt that I needed to do something to voice my opposition to the genocide taking place in Palestine. Every night, we watch unimaginable scenes of death and destruction on our screens and no action is taken by those in power. 

“Indeed, they seek to blame the Palestinians for their own misery by portraying them as terrorists, or non-human – even the babies and toddlers. The everyday person doesn’t understand that this is not complex at all. It is genocide, plain and simple.” 

She continued: “Joining this mass-fast allows us to say in a loud voice that this massacre is not being conducted in our name.”

The ‘Hunger For Justice: Palestine’ action is being conducted in concert with individuals and Palestinian advocacy groups and aims to have at least 1,000 people fasting in unison on the day.

The fast also aims to raise money for charities operating on the ground in Palestine, particularly in Gaza, where the ethnic cleansing is greatest. 

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is the primary recipient with other smaller initiatives also being supported.

Additionally, participants and supporters will gather on the day in their local centres in peaceful vigil to highlight aspects of the genocide. 

The mass fast is running in parallel to an ongoing rolling 24-hour fast campaign run by the Nenagh Friends of Palestine in Tipperary and Kerry IPSC. 

This campaign has been running for over 230 consecutive days since April, where a different volunteer refrains from food and drink each day – and dedicating their fast to a person killed in Palestine since October 2023. In the process, the groups have raised over €40,000 for Palestinian charities like UNRWA.

The project has received endorsements from over 50 groups across the country as well as notable names in Irish and international public life. These include Miriam Francois, Frances Black, Mick Wallace, Paul Murphy, Tony Griffin and Tadgh Hickey.

Rosie asks that the public support this cause by contributing to the donations page on https://www.gofundme.com/f/hunger-for-justice-gaza/.

Participation in the fast is open to the public, and more information about joining can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568421206188, on Instagram at hungerforjustice2024 and by email to hungerforjusticeireland@gmail.com.