‘Every right to attend any lawful event’

Cllr Tommy O’Connor, who also attended, said: “Catherine Seeley has every right as a citizen to any public, peaceful and lawful event she chooses, and I’m sure like increasing numbers of people from all backgrounds, will not pay much heed to commentary from David Simpson.

“I would suggest that many people were delighted to see Catherine Seeley at Saturday’s event and respected the fact that as a politician she was willing to publicly show her support for the people of Gaza.

“What is happening to the people of Gaza in our view is a humanitarian issue of epic proportions.

“I would suggest Mr Simpson should read what Cllr Seeley had to say, and what others have to say, before rededicating his unconditional support for the Israeli regime.”

During her address on Saturday Cllr Seeley highlighted the deaths of a number of Palestinian civilians, children, people with disabilities and people praying who thought they were safe but were killed by Isrraeli airstrikes.

She said: “Israel, Mr. Prime Minister, IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) are these the terrorists you speak of?

“We have all gave up time to be here this afternoon but compare that to the five minute warning a Palestinian family gets before their home collapses into a sea of
rubble.

“Coming here this afternoon is significant but we must continually send the message that we are against the ongoing siege of Gaza until the day that the illegal siege is lifted and the attacks on Palestinian civilians have ended.

“I stand with Gaza.”