One afternoon late August in a quiet Irish seaside town, a supermarket worker decided he could no longer separate his job from what he was seeing on his phone.
Images from Gaza, with neighbourhoods flattened and families buried, had followed him to the checkout counter.
Recommended Stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
At the time, Israel’s genocidal onslaught had killed more than 60,000 Palestinians.
His first act of protest was to quietly warn customers that some of the fruit and vegetables were sourced from Israel. Later, as people in Gaza starved, he refused to scan or sell Israeli-grown produce.
He could not, he said, “have that on my conscience”.
Within weeks, Tesco supermarket suspended him.
He requested anonymity following advice from his trade union.
In Newcastle, County Down, a town better known for its summer tourists than political protest, customers protested outside the store.
The local dispute became a test case: Can individual employees turn their moral outrage into workplace action?
Facing mounting backlash, Tesco reinstated him in January, moving him to a role where he no longer has to handle Israeli goods.
“I would encourage them to do it,” he said about other workers. “They have the backing of the unions and there’s a precedent set. They didn’t sack me; they shouldn’t be able to sack anyone else.
“And then, if we get enough people to do it, they can’t sell Israeli goods.”
“A genocide is still going on, they are slowly killing and starving people – we still need to be out, doing what we can.”
From shop floors to state policy
Across Europe, there is labour-led pressure to cease trade with Israel.
Unions in Ireland, the UK and Norway have passed motions stating that workers should not be compelled to handle Israeli goods.
Retail cooperatives, including Co-op UK and Italy’s Coop Alleanza 3.0, have removed some Israeli products in protest against the war in Gaza.
The campaigns raise questions about whether worker-led refusals can lead to state-level boycotts.
Activists say the strategy is rooted in history.
In 1984, workers at the Dunnes Stores retail chain in Ireland refused to handle goods from apartheid South Africa. The action lasted nearly three years and contributed to Ireland becoming the first country in Western Europe to ban trade with South Africa.
“The same can be done against the apartheid, genocidal state of Israel today,” said Damian Quinn, 33, of BDS Belfast.
The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement is a Palestinian-led campaign launched in 2005 that calls for economic and cultural boycotts of Israel until it complies with international law, including ending its occupation of Palestine.
“Where the state has failed in its obligation to prevent and punish the crime of genocide, citizens and workers across the world must refuse Israel and apply pressure on their governments to introduce legislation,” said Quinn.
That pressure, he said, takes the form of boycotting “complicit Israeli sporting, academic and cultural institutions”, as well as Israeli and international companies “engaged in violations of Palestinian human rights”.
The movement also seeks to “apply pressure on banks, local councils, universities, churches, pension funds and governments to do the same through divestment and sanctions”, he added.
Supporters argue that such pressure is beginning to shape state policy across Europe.
Spain and Slovenia have moved to restrict trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank following sustained public protests and mounting political pressure. In August 2025, Slovenia’s government banned imports of goods produced in Israeli-occupied territories, becoming one of the first European states to adopt such a measure.
Spain followed suit later that year, with a decree banning the import of products from illegal Israeli settlements. The measure was formally enforced at the start of 2026.
Both countries’ centre-left governments have been outspoken critics of Israel’s conduct during the war, helping create the political conditions for legislative action.
In the Netherlands, a wave of pro-Palestinian campus protests and public demonstrations in 2025 shifted political discourse. Student demands for academic and trade disengagement became part of broader calls for national policy change.
Later that year, members of the Dutch parliament urged the government to ban imports from illegal Israeli settlements.
Meanwhile, Ireland is attempting to advance its Occupied Territories Bill, first introduced in 2018, which would prohibit trade in goods and services from illegal settlements in occupied Palestinian territory, including the West Bank.
Progress, however, has stalled despite unanimous backing in the lower house of Ireland’s parliament, the Dail.
Paul Murphy, an Irish pro-Palestine member of parliament who, in June, attempted to cross into Gaza, told Al Jazeera the delay amounts to “indirect pressure from Israel routed through the US”. He accused the government of “kicking the can down the road” as it seeks further legal advice.
Pro-Israel organisations are working to oppose initiatives that aim to pressure Israel economically.
B’nai B’rith International, a US-based group that says it strengthens “global Jewish life”, combats anti-Semitism and stands “unequivocally with the State of Israel”, decries the BDS movement. In July 2025, it submitted an 18-page memorandum to Irish lawmakers, warning the bill could pose risks for US companies operating in Ireland.
The memorandum argued that, if enacted, the bill could create conflicts with US federal anti-boycott laws, which prohibit US companies from participating in certain foreign-led boycotts – particularly those targeting Israel.
B’nai B’rith International also “vehemently condemns” the United Kingdom’s recognition of Palestinian statehood and has donated 200 softshell jackets to Israeli military personnel.
Critics say interventions of this kind go beyond advocacy and reflect coordinated efforts to influence European policymaking on Israel and Palestine from abroad.
While lobby groups publicly press their case, leaked documents, based on material from whistleblower site Distributed Denial of Secrets, suggest the Israeli state has also been directly involved in countering BDS campaigns across Europe.
A covert programme, jointly funded by the Israeli Ministries of Justice and of Strategic Affairs, reportedly hired law firms for 130,000 euros ($154,200) on assignments aimed at monitoring boycott-related movements.
Former Sinn Fein MEP Martina Anderson, who supports the BDS movement, previously accused Israeli advocacy organisations of attempting to silence critics of Israel through legal and political pressure.
According to the leaked documents cited by The Ditch, an Irish outlet, Israel hired a law firm to “investigate the steps open to Israel against Martina Anderson”.
She told Al Jazeera she stood by her criticism.
“As the chair of the Palestinian delegation in the European Parliament, I did my work diligently, as people who know me would expect me to do.
“I am proud to have been a thorn in the side of the Israeli state and its extensive lobbying machine, which works relentlessly to undermine Palestinian voices and to justify a brutal and oppressive rogue state.”
Pushback across Europe
In 2019, Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag, adopted a non-binding resolution condemning the BDS movement as anti-Semitic, calling for the withdrawal of public funding from groups that support it.
Observers say the vote has since been used to conflate criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism.
The European Leadership Network (ELNET), a prominent pro-Israel advocacy organisation active across the continent, welcomed the move and said its German branch had urged further legislative steps.
Meanwhile, in the UK, ELNET has funded trips to Israel for Labour politicians and their staff.
Bridget Phillipson, now secretary of state for education, declared a 3,000-pound ($4,087) visit funded by ELNET for a member of her team.
A coworker of Wes Streeting named Anna Wilson also accepted a trip funded by ELNET. Streeting himself has visited Israel on a mission organised by the Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) group.
ELNET’s UK branch is directed by Joan Ryan, an ex-Labour MP and former LFI chair.
During the passage of a bill designed to prevent public bodies from pursuing their own boycotts, divestment or sanctions policies – the Labour Party imposed a three-line whip instructing MPs to vote against it. Phillipson and Streeting abstained.
The Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill was widely seen as an attempt to block local councils and public institutions from adopting BDS-style measures.
A vocal supporter of the legislation was Luke Akehurst, then director of the pro-Israel advocacy group, We Believe in Israel. In a statement carried by ELNET, he said it was “absurd” that local councils could “undermine the excellent relationship between the UK and Israel” through boycotts or divestment.
“We need the law changed to close this loophole,” he said, arguing that BDS initiatives by local authorities risked “importing the conflict into communities in the UK”.
The legislation was ultimately shelved when a general election was called in 2024. It formed part of broader legislative efforts in parts of Europe to limit BDS-linked boycotts.
Akehurst has since been elected as Labour MP for North Durham, having previously served on the party’s National Executive Committee.
Ireland Rugby: IRFU turns off social media comments after EdwinEdogbo abuse
The Irish Rugby Football Union had to turn off comments on a social media post which congratulated debutant Edwin Edogbo, following replies which contained racial abuse.
Munster forward Edogbo came off the bench and played the final 10 minutes of Saturday’s 20-13 victory over Italy in the Six Nations.
The IRFU confirmed in a statement that the comments made on the social media post on Saturday are now subject to investigation.
“We’re aware of some targeted abuse online in recent days and continue to work with Signify and the relevant authorities to report it,” the full IRFU statement read.
“We will also continue to fully support all affected by the cowardly actions of a minority and investigations are under way alongside our partners Signify.
“It is clear that racist abuse has no place in Irish society and the IRFU has a zero tolerance policy towards racism of any form.”
The 23-year-old lock has made 24 appearances for Munster and has registered 30 points.
After that nervy victory on Saturday, Ireland head coach Andy Farrell praised the debutant’s contribution in his post-match news conference.
“Well, we need to celebrate Edwin’s first cap, that is for sure as it is one amazing story,” Farrell said.
“I am so pleased we were able to get a win and show some fight to get a win for him because his story is a phenomenal one so we will celebrate that with him.”
Source link
Six Nations 2026: ‘Damaging’ keyboard warriors should cop on and help Ireland 10s – Andy Farrell
Head coach Andy Farrell issued an impassioned plea for “keyboard warriors to cop on and try to help” Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley amid a “damaging” narrative about Ireland’s fly-half situation.
Crowley played every minute of Ireland’s triumphant 2024 Six Nations campaign, but Prendergast has started all but one of the seven championship games since.
Prendergast struggled in Ireland’s win over Italy in Dublin on Saturday before being replaced by Crowley, whose high-tempo display leaves Farrell with another selection headache before facing England.
Farrell said: “Do you know what, I might be talking out of school here, but in my opinion for what’s gone on over the last year or something, especially with the keyboard warriors, I think people need to ask themselves, really, sometimes, ‘Are we Irish?, ‘do we want people to do well or not?’
“Because it can be tough for these kids like, you know? It can be tough for these kids. I’ve seen it, to-ing and fro-ing with both of them, and both of them are strong characters.
“It takes a lot to break kids like that. But I’ve seen it affect people, you know? So the keyboard warriors on Twitter, or whatever you call it now, need to cop on and try and help these kids.”
He added: “It’s damaging, you know? And the more we report on the keyboard warriors, we’re giving them…you know, everyone grows a leg, and then it’s ‘let’s do a bit more of it like’.”
Source link
Europe’s growing fight over Israeli goods: Boycott movements mushroom | Israel-Palestine conflict News
One afternoon late August in a quiet Irish seaside town, a supermarket worker decided he could no longer separate his job from what he was seeing on his phone.
Images from Gaza, with neighbourhoods flattened and families buried, had followed him to the checkout counter.
Recommended Stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
At the time, Israel’s genocidal onslaught had killed more than 60,000 Palestinians.
His first act of protest was to quietly warn customers that some of the fruit and vegetables were sourced from Israel. Later, as people in Gaza starved, he refused to scan or sell Israeli-grown produce.
He could not, he said, “have that on my conscience”.
Within weeks, Tesco supermarket suspended him.
He requested anonymity following advice from his trade union.
In Newcastle, County Down, a town better known for its summer tourists than political protest, customers protested outside the store.
The local dispute became a test case: Can individual employees turn their moral outrage into workplace action?
Facing mounting backlash, Tesco reinstated him in January, moving him to a role where he no longer has to handle Israeli goods.
“I would encourage them to do it,” he said about other workers. “They have the backing of the unions and there’s a precedent set. They didn’t sack me; they shouldn’t be able to sack anyone else.
“And then, if we get enough people to do it, they can’t sell Israeli goods.”
“A genocide is still going on, they are slowly killing and starving people – we still need to be out, doing what we can.”
From shop floors to state policy
Across Europe, there is labour-led pressure to cease trade with Israel.
Unions in Ireland, the UK and Norway have passed motions stating that workers should not be compelled to handle Israeli goods.
Retail cooperatives, including Co-op UK and Italy’s Coop Alleanza 3.0, have removed some Israeli products in protest against the war in Gaza.
The campaigns raise questions about whether worker-led refusals can lead to state-level boycotts.
Activists say the strategy is rooted in history.
In 1984, workers at the Dunnes Stores retail chain in Ireland refused to handle goods from apartheid South Africa. The action lasted nearly three years and contributed to Ireland becoming the first country in Western Europe to ban trade with South Africa.
“The same can be done against the apartheid, genocidal state of Israel today,” said Damian Quinn, 33, of BDS Belfast.
The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement is a Palestinian-led campaign launched in 2005 that calls for economic and cultural boycotts of Israel until it complies with international law, including ending its occupation of Palestine.
“Where the state has failed in its obligation to prevent and punish the crime of genocide, citizens and workers across the world must refuse Israel and apply pressure on their governments to introduce legislation,” said Quinn.
That pressure, he said, takes the form of boycotting “complicit Israeli sporting, academic and cultural institutions”, as well as Israeli and international companies “engaged in violations of Palestinian human rights”.
The movement also seeks to “apply pressure on banks, local councils, universities, churches, pension funds and governments to do the same through divestment and sanctions”, he added.
Supporters argue that such pressure is beginning to shape state policy across Europe.
Spain and Slovenia have moved to restrict trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank following sustained public protests and mounting political pressure. In August 2025, Slovenia’s government banned imports of goods produced in Israeli-occupied territories, becoming one of the first European states to adopt such a measure.
Spain followed suit later that year, with a decree banning the import of products from illegal Israeli settlements. The measure was formally enforced at the start of 2026.
Both countries’ centre-left governments have been outspoken critics of Israel’s conduct during the war, helping create the political conditions for legislative action.
In the Netherlands, a wave of pro-Palestinian campus protests and public demonstrations in 2025 shifted political discourse. Student demands for academic and trade disengagement became part of broader calls for national policy change.
Later that year, members of the Dutch parliament urged the government to ban imports from illegal Israeli settlements.
Meanwhile, Ireland is attempting to advance its Occupied Territories Bill, first introduced in 2018, which would prohibit trade in goods and services from illegal settlements in occupied Palestinian territory, including the West Bank.
Progress, however, has stalled despite unanimous backing in the lower house of Ireland’s parliament, the Dail.
Paul Murphy, an Irish pro-Palestine member of parliament who, in June, attempted to cross into Gaza, told Al Jazeera the delay amounts to “indirect pressure from Israel routed through the US”. He accused the government of “kicking the can down the road” as it seeks further legal advice.
Pro-Israel organisations are working to oppose initiatives that aim to pressure Israel economically.
B’nai B’rith International, a US-based group that says it strengthens “global Jewish life”, combats anti-Semitism and stands “unequivocally with the State of Israel”, decries the BDS movement. In July 2025, it submitted an 18-page memorandum to Irish lawmakers, warning the bill could pose risks for US companies operating in Ireland.
The memorandum argued that, if enacted, the bill could create conflicts with US federal anti-boycott laws, which prohibit US companies from participating in certain foreign-led boycotts – particularly those targeting Israel.
B’nai B’rith International also “vehemently condemns” the United Kingdom’s recognition of Palestinian statehood and has donated 200 softshell jackets to Israeli military personnel.
Critics say interventions of this kind go beyond advocacy and reflect coordinated efforts to influence European policymaking on Israel and Palestine from abroad.
While lobby groups publicly press their case, leaked documents, based on material from whistleblower site Distributed Denial of Secrets, suggest the Israeli state has also been directly involved in countering BDS campaigns across Europe.
A covert programme, jointly funded by the Israeli Ministries of Justice and of Strategic Affairs, reportedly hired law firms for 130,000 euros ($154,200) on assignments aimed at monitoring boycott-related movements.
Former Sinn Fein MEP Martina Anderson, who supports the BDS movement, previously accused Israeli advocacy organisations of attempting to silence critics of Israel through legal and political pressure.
According to the leaked documents cited by The Ditch, an Irish outlet, Israel hired a law firm to “investigate the steps open to Israel against Martina Anderson”.
She told Al Jazeera she stood by her criticism.
“As the chair of the Palestinian delegation in the European Parliament, I did my work diligently, as people who know me would expect me to do.
“I am proud to have been a thorn in the side of the Israeli state and its extensive lobbying machine, which works relentlessly to undermine Palestinian voices and to justify a brutal and oppressive rogue state.”
Pushback across Europe
In 2019, Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag, adopted a non-binding resolution condemning the BDS movement as anti-Semitic, calling for the withdrawal of public funding from groups that support it.
Observers say the vote has since been used to conflate criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism.
The European Leadership Network (ELNET), a prominent pro-Israel advocacy organisation active across the continent, welcomed the move and said its German branch had urged further legislative steps.
Meanwhile, in the UK, ELNET has funded trips to Israel for Labour politicians and their staff.
Bridget Phillipson, now secretary of state for education, declared a 3,000-pound ($4,087) visit funded by ELNET for a member of her team.
A coworker of Wes Streeting named Anna Wilson also accepted a trip funded by ELNET. Streeting himself has visited Israel on a mission organised by the Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) group.
ELNET’s UK branch is directed by Joan Ryan, an ex-Labour MP and former LFI chair.
During the passage of a bill designed to prevent public bodies from pursuing their own boycotts, divestment or sanctions policies – the Labour Party imposed a three-line whip instructing MPs to vote against it. Phillipson and Streeting abstained.
The Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill was widely seen as an attempt to block local councils and public institutions from adopting BDS-style measures.
A vocal supporter of the legislation was Luke Akehurst, then director of the pro-Israel advocacy group, We Believe in Israel. In a statement carried by ELNET, he said it was “absurd” that local councils could “undermine the excellent relationship between the UK and Israel” through boycotts or divestment.
“We need the law changed to close this loophole,” he said, arguing that BDS initiatives by local authorities risked “importing the conflict into communities in the UK”.
The legislation was ultimately shelved when a general election was called in 2024. It formed part of broader legislative efforts in parts of Europe to limit BDS-linked boycotts.
Akehurst has since been elected as Labour MP for North Durham, having previously served on the party’s National Executive Committee.
Source link
Ancient ‘supernatural’ stone fort with stunning views across five counties
The site is an ancient ring fort perched on a hilltop in County Donegal, offering panoramic views and steeped in Irish legends dating back centuries
A lot of myths and stories surround the ancient site (Image: Tuul & Bruno Morandi via Getty Images)
The Inishowen peninsula isn’t merely the location of Ireland’s most northerly point, but also hosts one of the country’s most captivating monuments, perched atop a hill in Donegal.
The Grianán of Aileach attracts numerous visitors to Ireland, shrouded in mystery as the 6th or 7th century ring fort is steeped in folklore and legend.
Standing majestically on an 800-foot hilltop, the monument historically served as the Royal residence of the Northern Uí Néill, a dynasty descended from a legendary Irish monarch.
Constructed from robust, thick dry-stone walls, it provides breathtaking panoramic views. While much of the structure underwent restoration in 1870, it’s believed to have been initially built during the 6th-7th century, with the earthworks themselves tracing back to 1700 BC.
Legends
Research indicates the fort may have been originally built before AD 800 by an ancient Irish king, Áed Oirdnide, king of Cenél nÉogain. He governed what would have been a modest kingdom situated within the Inishowen peninsula.
From this imposing hilltop, he would have commanded views across his own lands whilst simultaneously surveying the new Donegal territories now under his control. Essentially, the structure functioned as a political declaration and a means to assert additional authority.
Best UK holiday cottage deals
From £27 per night
Sykes Cottages
https://go.skimresources.com?id=76202X1526515&xs=1&xcust=Mirror&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sykescottages.co.uk
Sykes Cottages offers a wide range of handpicked holiday homes across the UK and Ireland, from cosy countryside retreats to stunning coastal escapes. Prices start from £27 per night
Another tale traces the fort’s origins back to the era of the Tuatha de Danann, a mythical race said to possess supernatural powers, also referred to as the Fae Folk. The Dagda, one of the revered and divine chieftains of the Tuatha, shares a particular link with this ancient location.
Legend has it that following the death of his son Aodh, the Dagda built a stone fortress to serve as both burial place and memorial. The Metrical Dindshenchas, an ancient Irish manuscript, is thought to explain the site’s name, lending credence to this tale.
The Setting
From the fort, there are sweeping views across both Lough Foyle and Lough Swilly, and locals claim that on particularly clear days, you can glimpse up to five of Ulster’s nine counties.
One impressed guest said: “This ring fort was the most impressive one I’ve ever seen. The views from here highlight why it would have been constructed in this location. They are beautiful. The structure is in very good condition. I stood in the middle and just turned around to appreciate this site.”
Whilst the panoramas from the modest peak are stunning, perched at 250 metres above sea level, there’s virtually nothing surrounding it apart from unspoilt countryside. The only nearby facility is the visitors’ car park, making for a straightforward stroll to the main attraction.
Another visitor said: “This is a beautiful landmark and well worth a visit. Thankfully, the monument is now open, and we were able to go early in the evening. They also have a wishing well that our kids were able to throw money into. Well worth a visit.”
Local attractions
If you fancy a pit stop during or after your journey, the liveliest spot in the vicinity is Londonderry. Located just a 15-minute drive from The Grianán of Aileach, it boasts numerous restaurants, pubs and cafes where you can grab some food.
Alternatively, if you’re enjoying the countryside and prefer somewhere more off the beaten track for refreshments, venture towards Newtown Cunningham. Here you’ll discover several eateries, including Scarpello and Co, Coyles Bar and Restaurant and Kate’s Kitchen.
Should you wish to continue your adventure, just an eight-minute drive from the monument will take you to Inch Wildfowl Reserve along the coast. This stunning location features a magnificent 8 km wilderness walk and hosts an impressive array of wildfowl and geese.
Source link