Presbyterian minister urges people to join Great March for Gaza from Lurgan to Omeath
A retired Banbridge presbyterian minister has urged people to join the 'Great March for Gaza' from Lurgan to Omeath tomorrow.
In an appeal on Facebook for the Lurgan branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Rev Dr Mark Gray from Bannside Presbyterian Church said that "if the church and wider society have nothing to say about genocide, then the church and wider society have nothing to say". He urged people to be involved in tomorrow’s parade.
While some commentators have accused Israel of genocide in Gaza, such allegations remain unproven unless the International Court of Justice (ICJ) determines that it bears state responsibility under the definition of international law.
The News Letter asked Rev Gray if he supports the campaign by the Irish government to have the legal definition relaxed to allow the ICJ to convict Israel? If he supports the right of Israel to exist? If he has campaigned against any reported genocides in Sudan, Congo or Myanmar? And whether he has any concerns about the impact of the parade on Scarva? He declined to answer any questions.
Instead he said that working as a teacher in Malawi opened his eyes "to the world of the poor” and that he travelled to Israel and Gaza in 2005. The cleric, whose grandmother was Jewish, cited a list of high profile international academics and experts who believe Israel is guilty of genocide, adding that this should “mobilize support” for the ICJ “in clarifying the matter once and for all”.
The cleric, who retired last month, later said he believes in “non-violence” and “the right of all people in Israel and Palestine to live in peace and security”.