Izz Cafe owner highlights ‘dire’ Gaza situation

The owner of one of Cork’s most popular restaurants has spoken out against the conflict in Gaza, describing the situation there as “dire”.

Hailing from Halhul in Palestine, Izzeddeen Alkarajeh has been living in Ireland for seven years, and along with his wife Eman, launched the popular Izz Cafe in the summer of 2019. The restaurant, situated in George’s Quay, has become a hugely successfull business in the years since it opened.

Addressing the media at a recent press conference organised by the Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign, he highlighted the severity of the situation in Gaza.

“Everything is running out. A friend recently shared with me the dire circumstances on the ground. Flour has become scare and there is a demand for canned food because of a lack of fuel to cook with. The only available produce is locally grown fruit and vegetables but the prices have skyrocketed and are unaffordable,” he said.

Izzeddeen also spoke about the challenges of maintaining communication with loved ones in Gaza, revealing that at the beginning of the conflict, he had to close the cafe due to overwhelming concerns for the safety of friends and family.

“For a while we were so worried we couldn’t even cope with work, and had to stop operating the business. My staff members have family in Gaza. They are brothers, their family has been displaced from the north to the south and are sheltered in one of the schools now. The lack of communication with their family puts us under huge stress that they could be lost. Every single moment is a worry.”

Acknowledging the support from Cork and Ireland, Izzadeen expressed his gratitude, saying: "People in Cork and Ireland in general are very supportive. Our cafe is always busy, we are receiving plenty of messages, and some people send cards, messages on social media, and sometimes they even call us over the phone for a chat about the situation. It shows solidarity, and they ask about ways to support Palestine," he said.

However he urged people to keep supporting Palestine in whatever way they can. "It’s very important that people keep talking about it. Continue putting pressure on the Government. Politically, we can advocate for unimpeded passage of aid from Irish charities into Gaza. We must prioritise human rights over political and economic considerations," he added.