Last week, members of Fórsa’s Dublin North Health and Welfare Branch met with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) representatives, to present a ten thousand-euro cheque, underscoring Fórsa's enduring commitment to Palestinian solidarity through ongoing initiatives.

The event in Eamonn Ceannt House was organised by the branch’s campaign officer Liz Butler. Chairperson of the Dublin North Health and Welfare Branch, Michael Davis gave an insight into the origins of the event, explaining that  Dr. Liam Corcoran had previously addressed their AGM last February. 

“We are aware of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and their work throughout the globe but were stopped in our tracks regarding the challenges they face and of course in particular to the appalling situation in Gaza. Notwithstanding the excellent work done through Fórsa's world development programme and the recent massive donation to UNICEF, we felt we had to go the extra mile and extend a helping hand,” explained Michael Davis. 

On the night, Dr. Liam Corcoran, press officer for MSF outlined the catastrophic situation facing the people of Gaza.

“The healthcare system has collapsed. Most of Gaza’s hospitals are out of service, after being repeatedly attacked, besieged, and raided. Patients and medical staff are being killed. Electrical power has been cut off, clean water is scarce, and our teams are treating malnutrition as hunger takes hold. No one is safe in Gaza.”

He went on to explain how Médecins Sans Frontières surgeons, doctors and nurses are working to provide emergency surgeries, wound treatment, medical and maternity care in overcrowded hospitals, health facilities and clinics since 7th October.

“Our teams are offering surgical support, wound care, physiotherapy, postpartum care, primary health care, vaccination, and mental health services, but systematic sieges and evacuation orders on various hospitals have pushed our activities onto an ever-smaller territory,” he said.

He also outlined how in the West Bank, the organisation’s teams are providing medical care and mental health support in hospitals and through mobile clinics in response to an increase in violence and movement restrictions.

Palestinian solidarity work has a been a constant focus of Fórsa’s global solidarity work. In October 2023, Fórsa donated €100,000 to the UNICEF Gaza Crisis Emergency Appeal. This was a decision of the national executive. 

At the union’s Global Solidarity International Spring School in March, the Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland, Dr. Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, received a warm welcome at Nerney’s Court, where nearly one hundred union activists from across the country gave her a standing ovation, as she addressed the ongoing war on Palestine and the relentless bombardment of Gaza.