Clare IPSC is organising another opportunity to catch a free screening of the film ‘GAZA’, this time in Miltown Malbay Community Centre on Tuesday 5th March at 8pm.
The film, released in 2019, was directed and produced by two Irish men, Andrew McConnell and Garry Keane. ‘GAZA’ describes the unique world, rich with eloquent and resilient characters, offering us an inspiring portrait of a people, living with hope and leading meaningful lives against the rubble of perennial conflict between 2014 and 2018.
The award–winning film has real value as a compassionate human document, showing ordinary people who courageously have to keep going, somehow, in what then seemed like the grimmest of conditions, in a world where there is a “wall between the people of Gaza and life itself”.
The directors bring us a revealing film showing the common frustration at living an abnormal life, under siege. You will meet, amongst others, a young cellist, a young rapper, a theatre director, a fisherman and his son, a taxi driver and an ambulance driver as they share their stories, daily experiences and their hopes for the future. Simple aspirations, which we might take for granted, are quashed on a daily basis. Knowing that western media and leaders are ignoring their plight, stone throwing seems to be only outlet for youth to express their frustration. No one in Gaza, 75 years or younger has ever been free This freedom is what they yearn for, what they dream of, something we are all told is our birth right.
The 24th February vigil and peace march organised by the Clare branch of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign in Ennis marked the twentieth week of the total besiegement of the Gaza Strip and continuous bombardment and ground attacks by Israeli force More than 14,000 children have been killed and according to UNICEF ‘The entire population is facing dire hunger with at least 335,000 children – that’s every single child under the age of five – at immediate risk of severe acute malnutrition. 10,000 of them are already so desperately sick they could die unless they get urgent help.’
UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East is the largest humanitarian actor in Gaza. 150 UNRWA staff providing desperately needed humanitarian support have been killed by Israeli attacks in the last five months. In January, Israel accused 12 of the 30,000 UNWRA employees, of which 13,000 work in Gaza, of having taken part in the attacks on 7 October.
As of today 18 countries have suspended funding, including the US, Canada and many European countries. This amounts to a $450m shortfall from a budget of $880m ‘as it confronts the biggest humanitarian crisis seen in the organisation’s 75-year history.’ Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the agency, said UNRWA is ‘at breaking point’.
Ireland, which has not joined the funding freeze, committed an extra €20m to UNRWA this month to help address the agency’s financial crisis. While this is welcome, it does not excuse the inaction shown by the government, despite strong public demand, to take urgent, necessary action to get sufficient humanitarian aid into Gaza and to achieve a permanent ceasefire.
Wildcard Distribution have again kindly waived the license fees for this charity. Admission to the ‘GAZA’ screening will be free and all donations on the night and up until the 13th of March via our GoFundMe page : Miltown GAZA screening (https://gofund.me/0d6d5501) will go directly to UNWRA to provide financial aid and solidarity so they can continue providing life-saving food, shelter and health services in the Gaza Strip.
