People of Derry urged to support 'Bridgil' for Palestine at the Peace Bridge on Friday

Spokesperson for the group Catherine Hutton explained that these vigils or ‘bridgils,’ as activists are calling them, are taking part on bridges across Ireland.

" In every County in Ireland people will occupy bridges on Friday to show solidarity for Palestine. The Bridgil in Derry will fittingly be on the Peace Bridge. We will once more raise our voices and call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

“The massacre of refugees in tents by the Israeli Occupation Forces this week and the pathetic ' apology ' by Netanyahu truly shows what a pariah state Israel is. It is outrageous that the British Government are still sending arms to Israel despite the ICJ and ICC rulings. How many dead Palestinian children will it take before the US, UK and EU finally take definitive action to stop the genocide?

“We ask the people of Derry to come out to remember the dead children of Rafah and to scream for justice. We must mourn the dead but keep on fighting for the living. "

The DIPSC Bridgil will take place at 7pm on Friday, May 31 on the Peace Bridge.

Meanwhile, Ireland has. on Tuesday May 28, formally recognised the State of Palestine.

The Government recognises Palestine as a sovereign and independent state and agreed to establish full diplomatic relations between Dublin and Ramallah.

An Ambassador of Ireland to the State of Palestine will be appointed along with a full Embassy of Ireland in Ramallah.

The Government noted the tragic backdrop to the announcement and again called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of Israeli hostages and unhindered access for humanitarian aid.

Ireland said it recognises the State of Palestine in the spirit of peace in a ‘coordinated announcement with our friends and colleagues in Spain and Norway’.

Taoiseach Simon Harris said: “This decision of Ireland is about keeping hope alive. It is about believing that a two-state solution is the only way for Israel and Palestine to live side by side in peace and security.”

“We had wanted to recognise Palestine at the end of a peace process however we have made this move alongside Spain and Norway to keep the miracle of peace alive. I again call on Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel to listen to the world and stop the humanitarian catastrophe we are seeing in Gaza.”