SINN Féin has held a solidarity vigil in Derry in support of the 1,600 Palestinian prisoners who are currently on hunger strike against brutal treatment in Israeli jails.
The vigil took place at the H Block Monument on Rossville Street on Friday afternoon to coincide with the 36th anniversary of Bobby Sands’ death on Hunger Strike.
The event closed with the singing of a song associated with the 1980 -1981 Hunger Strikes the ballad of Joe McDonnell.
Foyle MLA Raymond McCartney said: “There have been a number of these vigils held across Ireland to send a message of solidarity to all those Palestinians incarcerated in Israeli jails and those who are on hunger strike.
The rally was on the 36th anniversary of the death of Bobby Sands.
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has urged the Israeli government to abandon its apartheid policies and enter into a meaningful process of peace talks.
It urgently needs to defuse the prison crisis by releasing all of those held under internment orders and implement a prison regime that respects the rights of prisoners.
He has also written to the Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan to communicate to the Israeli government our concern at the ill-treatment of Palestinian prisoners.”
