Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney has encouraged people to attend a solidarity rally in Belfast calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. 

Speaking ahead of the event which will take in Belfast’s Europa Hotel at 7pm, the party’s National Chairperson said:

“Sinn Féin will host a special meeting to mobilise support and solidarity with the Palestinian people on Wednesday 7 February in the Europa Hotel.

“This event will feature a range of speakers, including the Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland, Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, Mustafa Barghouti, the Sinn Féin leadership and other Palestinian representatives. Mustafa Barghouti, General Secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative will join by live feed from Ramallah. 

“This is an opportunity to demonstrate that Ireland stands with the people of Gaza and the West Bank and to reiterate calls for an immediate ceasefire, and an end to the occupation.

“The Israeli military onslaught against the Palestinian people is barbaric and in clear violation of international humanitarian law. An unconditional ceasefire must be urgently called and Israel must be held accountable for its actions.”