The black shamrock is a symbol of Irish neutrality dating back to 2006 (Irish Times | Pensive Quill). In the light of the attack on Gaza it is being used by the IPSC and other pro-Palestinian causes as a symbol of solidarity. This shamrock, on Free Derry Corner, has been augmented with two small Palestinian flags, one with a dove and the word “peace” (shown below).
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In 2000, during the Second Intifada, Palestinian teenager Faris Odeh was photographed by an AP photographer in the act of throwing a stone at an Israeli tank. He was shot and killed a few days later and the image became a symbol of resistance. (A mural of the photograph was painted in Springhill: see David And Goliath.) The iconic image is updated here for Israel’s current invasion of Gaza, showing a young girl with a soft toy standing in front of a tank that is bedecked with the flags of the European Union, France, the USA, the UK, and Germany.
The F-16 jets and rubble and child with teddy-bear are the same as in the We Stand With Palestine mural in Ardoyne.
For the teddy-bears and soft toys, see Boycott Israeli Genocide and It Could Be You.
For the Easter Rising mural, see The Undauntable Thought.
South Link, Andersonstown, west Belfast. Launched November 18th, 2023 (PD Fb).
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Copyright © 2024 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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from the river to the sea will be free Mickey Doherty
The “Put it back, thief” imagery is applied here to Palestine and Israel, except that there is no piece of territory in the Israeli arm, only a grasping hand, and the slogan is “Saoırse don Phalaıstín”.
In case you need any reminding of the trope, a close-up from the Kneecap mural in Hawthorn Street is included directly below; in CNR muraling, the imagery dates back to Stad Maggie Anoıs (1986) and England Get Out Of Ireland (1989). Similar imagery, based on a Soviet poster, was seen recently in Give It Back, Thief, concerning Lough Neagh.
Finally below is “An Phalaıstín” with the flag as a shield, as though the country were a sporting club.
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Here is an assortment of images concerning boycotts of Israeli goods in response to the invasion of Gaza. Above, “Ban Israeli goods” on the wall of the Alexandra Park Tesco, north Belfast; below, V-for-victory fingers as scissors snipping barbed wire (bdsmovement.net) in a shop window in Andersonstown, west Belfast; “BDS” [Boycott, divestment, sanctions] and “IPSC” [Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which maintains a list of Israeli goods] next to a painted Palestinian flag in the middle Falls, west Belfast; plus an Artists Against Genocide (ig) sticker.
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Irish politicians are making their annual pilgrimage to the United States for St Patrick’s Day. Taoıseach Leo Varadkar was first in Boston and is now in Washington, DC (gov.ie). Sınn Féın leaders Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O’Neill say (Sky News) that during their visit they will raise the issues of Israel’s military attack and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza with US President Joe Biden, changing “Say “No” to Genocide Joe” to “Say “No” to genocide, Joe”. Michelle O’Neill (SF) and Emma Little-Pengelly (DUP) together promoted Northern Irish business opportunities (journal.ie).
SDLP leaders are not in attendance and People Before Profit called for a boycott (see previously: Don’t Look Away).
Meanwhile in Qatar, it is hoped that negotiations between Hamas and Israel will be rejoined (AP).
Slıabh Dubh has its own Visual History page.
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“Cosaın Ár Neodracht – Ní dhéanann muıd freastal ar Westminster nó ar Washington ach ar Éıreann amháın./Protect our neutrality – We serve neither Westminster nor Washington but Ireland only.” The question of Ireland’s neutrality is a frequent one in light of US aeroplanes using Shannon as a stop-over point en route to the Middle East and more recently because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine that has pushed Finland and Sweden to join NATO (CNN).
The other issue on these posters (on the right of the electrical box) is political prisoners in Palestine. The Al Naqab prison is in the Negev, Israel, and “a center of brutality and brutal behavior” according to the head of a Palestinian prisoners’ welfare organisation (Al Mayadeen) with at least six prisoners killed in October-November (People’s Dispatch). (For the POW solidarity poster in the bottom right, see Victory To The PFLP.)
For the use of an upturned red triangle, see Resist! from the Lecky Road underpass. For a kite flying in support of peace in Gaza, and the source of this entry’s title, see Tell My Story.
Central Drive (above) and Southway, Derry.
The Resist triangle in Central Drive replaces some simple graffiti in memory of Bloody Sunday:
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Two murals have been added to the exterior of Felons’ Club in Andersonstown to show support for Palestine. Above, on the Lake Glen side of the club, a printed board reading “We stand with Palestine – seas leis an Phalaıstín” and including an Emmalene Blake image (ig) on the right (shown in close-up, below) journalist Alatrash Samia and her niece Masa (as photographed by Mahmoud Bassam); further below, a “Stop the genocide in Gaza” tarp above the entrance.
Also included are images of several memorial plaques from the courtyard, to James Smyth, Anraí (Harry) Osborne, and Seosamh Ó Conghaıle (Joseph Connolly); the Roger Casement plaque is on the Kieran Doherty mural in Slemish Way. “County Antrim Memorial: Tógaḋ an leaċt seo mar ċoṁarṫa urraıme, grá agus dílse do na saıġdıúırí uaısle as Contae Aontroma, a martraíoḋ ar son Ṗoblaċt Na hÉıreann. Ṡeas gaċ glúın díoḃ sa ḃearna ḃaoıl, ag troıd go cróga ċun aontaċt agus saoırse a ṫaḃaırt ar aıs do náısıún na nGael. Go spreaga an leaċt cuımhne seo na daoıne feasta ıonas go leana sıad lorg na laoċra dtí go mbéarfar bua uasal na saoırse ar ball. Erected by the Belfast Committee of the National Graves Association with generous co-operation from sub-committees in America and Dublin.”
For a similar style of floral arrangement, see Do You Believe?
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Here are seven pro-Palestinian posters on a planter outside the Royal in west Belfast.
The “Rise Up Against Genocide” poster is from ‘Love Letters From Palestine’ (ig).
“Birds Not Bombs” is by Dani Knight (ig).
“Boycott Apartheid Israel” is by Chris Hutch (Palestinian Poster Project).
The “Save Gaza” poster is by Pakistani designer Hazem Asif (ig | web).
“Unity In Confronting Zionism” is by Deliberately/Collectively Anonymous (PPP)
“Palestine Will Be Free” is by Josh McPhee (ig)
“Free Palestine” ?
Falls Road, west Belfast.
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from the river to the sea
“Victory to the PFLP.” “PFLP” is the Popular Front For The Liberation Of Palestine, a revolutionary (where Fatah is democratic) left-wing militant group within the PLO. It dates back to 1967 and known for skyjackings in 1969 and 1970 led by Leila Khaled (see the entry on the mural featuring Khaled in Hugo St) and for suicide bombings during the Second Intifada (BBC | WP).
The PFLP emblem also appears in murals from Éırígí (Resistance Is Not Terrorism | Solidarity With Palestine) and RNU (Peoples United).
The posters read: “Republican solidarity with Palestine! التضامن الجمهوري مع فلسطين www.irpwa.irish” and “Stand with Palestine. End Israeli apartheid. End the siege of Gaza.” Both posters have also been murals: for the prisoners joining hands (which is a Carlos Latuff (ig) design) see Hands Across The Yard; for the protester tying her keffiyeh, see #Gaza.
Central Drive, Creggan, Derry.
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The launch event for the Painting For Palestine project (Fb) took place on March 3rd. A large paper Palestinian flag (with the cartoon character of resistance Handala (WP) on it) was used as a cover over the mural of three children – Irish, Palestinian, and South African – and unveiled by local children who had worked on the piece.
More images of the launch can be found in the Paddy Duffy collection.
For the ten pieces linked by Alareer’s poem on a red ribbon, see Tell My Story.
For the twelve pieces without the red ribbon, see The Land Is Ours – Khan Younis Mass Grave … Man Holding Child – A Window To A Free Country – Soldiers Standing Over Children – Three Children – Flying Children/Prisoners – Bethlehem Fireworks – Family Group – Soso And Omar Ashour – Phoenix – Cooking In Front Of A Tent.
The ‘Painting For Palestine’ booklet is included last below.
The principal artists: DD, MD, ML
Bill Rolston, one of the organisers:
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Extramural Activity 