A PALESTINIAN city has raised the Irish tricolour and played the national anthem in thanks to Ireland for recognising the annexation of their territories.
Last week, Ireland became the first EU country to declare Israel's settlement programme as 'de facto annexation' after a Sinn Féin motion was passed in the Dáil which stated that the Dáil recognises that "the crime of de facto annexation is taking place in the occupied Palestinian territories”, and assert that “Israel is acting illegally under international law”.
An amendment to the motion also condemned the rocket attacks launched by Hamas on Israel.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry has rejected the statement, describing it as "outrageous", "baseless" and "a blatantly one-sided and simplistic policy".
However the move has been hugely welcomed in Palestine, and yesterday the city of Ramallah showed their appreciation for Ireland's solidarity with an emotional display of thanks.
Residents of the city raised the Irish tricolour to fly alongside the Palestinian flag, while Ireland's national anthem Amhrán na bhFiann was played on a loudspeaker across the square.
This happened in Ramallah today, a wonderful Palestinian city in the central West Bank located 10 km north of Jerusalem. I cried watching this 🥲 Ireland 🇮🇪 says thank you #Ramallah 🇵🇸🇵🇸🙏🙏 #Palestine pic.twitter.com/uBRShtBWAu
— Frances Black (@frances_black) May 27, 2021
Ramallah is just 10 kilometres from Jerusalem, a city marred with violence in recent weeks before a tentative ceasefire was called earlier this week.
The emotional video was shared to Twitter by Irish Senator Frances Black, who wrote:
"This happened in Ramallah today, a wonderful Palestinian city in the central West Bank located 10km north of Jerusalem."
Admitting that "I cried watching this," Ms Black sent her thanks to the people of Palestine for their show of solidarity.
