In recent months, Gardaí have been cracking down on activists who have engaged in protests and direct action in solidarity with Palestine.

Two activists were arrested at a peaceful BDS action on Grafton Street in February and charged under the Public Order Act. Another activist has been charged with criminal damage for allegedly throwing washable red paint on the Department of Foreign Affairs after Micheál Martin’s visit to Israel. Several other activists were also threatened with criminal charges for the peaceful, symbolic action of attempting to hand an eviction notice into the Israeli Embassy. Most recently, two activists were violently arrested and detained overnight for peacefully protesting the US congress visit. 

The response of the Gardaí to peaceful protest, under instruction from the Irish state, is a pattern of disproportionate crackdowns. This pattern is nothing less than the criminalisation of solidarity itself.

This is happening at a time when the International Court of Justice has found a plausible case that Israel is committing a genocide against the people of Gaza. Under the Genocide Convention, there is a legal imperative for states to do everything in their power to stop the genocide. Instead, the Irish State is attempting to criminalise those who are taking action in solidarity with the people of Palestine. The state’s intention's to repress solidarity with Palestine and halt the momentum of our movement are clear. 

This campaign was started by the activists affected by state repression around peaceful Palestine solidarity actions. So far, there have been 7 arbitrary adult cautions issued, 5 arbitrary arrests leading to district court trails, with1 case escalated to the circuit court to be tried with judge and jury.