IF YOU WERE in the Sandymount area of Dublin today, and hurrying along the coast road – you may have witnessed the following sight…
The installation was erected by artists involved with PalFest – an event organised to mark the first anniversary of last year’s Israel-Gaza conflict.
The striking image had people talking on Twitter:
A total of 2,251 Palestinians were killed during last summer’s violence.
More than 10,000 were wounded and 100,000 were left homeless.
According to the event’s organisers:
The 556 infant vests on uprights represent the number of children killed by the Israeli bombardment of Gaza a year ago.
The conflict
On the Israeli side 73 people were killed, of whom 67 were soldiers. Up to 1,600 were wounded, according to the United Nations.
The conflict broke out after an upsurge in hostilities in June of last year.
During the evening of July 7 at least 80 rockets were fired into southern and central Israel, with the military wing of Hamas claiming responsibility.
The next day, Israel launched ‘Protective Edge’ with air strikes, on what it said were “approximately 50″ Gaza targets.
Bombardments of the coastal strip continued until an Egyptian-brokered truce was reached in Cairo at the end of August.
Today’s installation was organised by members of Irish Artists in support of Palestine and the Irish Palestine Solidarity Committee. Other events are also scheduled for the coming days.
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