Thousands of people took part in a protest through Cork City this afternoon organised by the Cork Palestine Solidarity campaign.
The large group marched through Grand Parade, St Patrick's Street and Oliver Plunkett Street calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war and condemning the actions of the Israeli army in Gaza.
It is one of many protest actions and rallies undertaken by the group since the beginning of the now 50-day war in Gaza.
A small group of pro-Palestine supporters interrupted and chanted over the address by Tánaiste Micheál Martin when he spoke at the re-opening of an upgraded streetscape and improved transport infrastructure on Cork's historic MacCurtain Street earlier today. Mr Martin continued his speech despite the interruption.
A protest in support of the people of Palestine, which was due to take place in Dublin city centre this afternoon, was postponed until 2 December, because of the public disorder and chaos on Dublin city centre streets last Thursday night.
In respect of Emily Hand Tánaiste Micheál Martin said we pray, and we hope that she will be one of those to come out of Gaza.
We want all hostages released— "When we went to Egypt and Israel and Ramallah when I met the Palestinian authorities there, we raised Emily's case.
"We also raised it with the Qatari foreign Ministry and the Saudi leadership and all of those who potentially have influence, so please God we hope that this eight-year-old who has been through unbelievable trauma can come out of Gaza.
"It would be a beautiful moment for that family amidst all the gloom and darkness of that conflict."
He said the Government has already been successful in getting some Irish citizens out of Gaza, and he has met with them at Government buildings to facilitate the sharing of their experiences.
He said they were very grateful for our efforts in going there and trying to get them and their families out of Gaza.
Mr Martin added that they will continue to try and get Irish citizens out of Gaza, and you only do that by maintaining diplomatic channels. He said Israel and Egypt are key to the evacuation of Irish citizens and foreign nationals in general.
The group of Pro Palestinian supporters at the re-opening of the streetscape chanted 'Ceasefire Now’….and 'Michael Martin You can’t hide—You’re supporting genocide.’
He said if we were to listen to those protesting today and their position, "We would not have any citizens coming out of Gaza that is a simple fact and we would not have diplomatic networks to facilitate that, or to engage with those who are working to get the war stopped.
"Ireland has been to the fore in calling for a cessation of the violence.
"The group who was here this morning did not want me speaking, but I kept speaking as I will not allow this to drown out democracy."
