UCC joins calls for Gaza ceasefire

More than 300 staff and almost 1,000 students at UCC have signed a statement calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and numbers are still rising.

The statement, currently being circulated throughout the college, is an effort to add UCC’s voice to national and international calls for an end to the violence.

It also calls for recognition of the ICJ interim ruling which requires Israel to take measures to prevent acts of genocide and ensure humanitarian access to the population of Gaza.

The statement also demands that there is a review of all academic links between UCC and Israeli academic and industrial institutions, as well as the adoption of a boycott, divestment, sanctions policy across the university.

“As UCC staff and students, we have watched with horror as Israel has bombarded Gaza for the past four and a half months,” the statement reads.

It continues: “As least 30,000 Palestinians have been killed, including a shocking 13,000 children. We note that the International Court of Justice has held that there is a ‘plausible case of genocide; committed by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza.

“UCC responded promptly with compassion and clarity to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The university’s efforts to support students and colleagues from Ukraine is something to be proud of and illustrates our University of Sanctuary status.

“We call on the university to extend this solidarity and sanctuary to Palestinian students and academic colleagues.”

Meanwhile, the Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign (CPSC) held its 21st demonstration in Cork last Saturday since Israel's war on Gaza commenced in early October. It was attended by around 1,300 people.

Catríona Twomey, the director of Cork Penny Dinners, called for an end to the "senseless violence" in Gaza and for food aid to be delivered without further delay, during the last protest. Ms Twomey said she was shocked by the "unfathomable slaughter" in Gaza, where more than 30,000 people have been killed in five months.