A130-foot-long-hand crocheted quilt in Palestinian colours of red, black, green and white was displayed on Saturday in Kilkenny City Centre. The quilt is a memorial made by women across Ireland, in solidarity against the genocide of Gaza’s children. The quilt has over 2,600 squares, each one commemorating 10 of the more than 26,000 children killed in the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The quilt was held up for display by over 70 people and stretched 40 metres along the Parade. Four women, carrying small white shrouded bundles representing babies stood silently beside the quilt.
Anna Doyle, one of the founders of the group said “It’s a blanket to give voice to the voiceless children in Gaza who have passed away. It’s a blanket of memorial and rage, as we are so angry with the Government for not enacting the Occupied Territories Bill and think that they should be doing far more for sanctions.”
Kevin Shore, the Chairperson of Kilkenny Community Palestine Solidarity Group spoke, citing the terrible war crimes being carried out against children and mentioning specially the awful situation for many tens of thousands of pregnant women in Gaza, giving birth with no medical services and often no painkillers, sometimes under bombardment. Kevin said that children are pure and innocent and never should be a target. He added that there is nothing antisemitic about calling out war crimes or genocide by any state.
A very emotional performance was given by local group Burnchurch who sang their song “Lonely Whispers” about the little 5-year-old girl killed by Israeli forces while she reached out to help by her cousin’s phone. Kevin Shore reminded the crowd of the lonely death of Hind Rajab, surrounded by dead family members. The sincerity and emotion with which the group performed was outstanding and listened to in total silence. Eamonn Wallace played his “Lament for Palestine” on the fiddle.
Wesam Akram and Katharine Larkin of Kilkenny Community Palestine Solidarity Group read poems by Palestinian poet, Khalid Juma, from Gaza, “I Will Give Your Complete Safety“ and “Rascal Children of Gaza”. Katharine thanked everyone who came and particularly those who had held up the whole length of the quilt, urging everyone to take whatever action they could to help stop the genocide, to boycotting Israeli goods and to continue pressure on politicians. She asked everyone to join the weekly vigil for Gaza held at the Parade from on Wednesdays 5.30 – 6.00 p.m.
As children continue to be killed in their thousands in Gaza and are undergoing forced starvation, this amazing but tragic quilt is still growing longer.
