The horrors continue.

As the United Nations delayed a vote on a bid to boost aid to Gaza and “the urgent suspension of hostilities to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access”, a further 35 people were killed by Israeli forces yesterday.

Meanwhile, the MTU Global Justice Learning Community held an Empty Shoes Vigil on the Bishopstown campus, with each pair of children’s shoes representing approximately 100 of the young lives lost.

The numbers are stark, with 10,091 Palestinian children and 48 Israeli children killed since October 7th, 2023.

The Palestinian death toll in Gaza is nearing 20,000 and almost two million people have been displaced since the war began.

The vigil included the reading of two poems by Palestinian poets – Ghassan Kanafani and Refaat Alareer –  and participants were directed to support the Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign in the ongoing calls for a ceasefire in Palestine.

Méabh O’Connell joined the vigil and donated shoes with her daughters Beth Healy and Mary Healy. Siobhán Kangataran, MTU’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Manager and founder of the Global Justice Learning Community was also in attendance.

Photographs: Barry O’Sullivan, MTU