Laois nurse joins Irish contingent on global March to Gaza

A Laois nurse is joining with thousands of people from over 50 countries in the March to Gaza, to demand an end to the genocide of Palestine by the Israeli Government.

Mountmellick mother of four Helen Lawlor will fly to Egypt in a week's time with an Irish contingent, to march 50km through the Sinai Desert to the Rafah crossing in Egypt.

There she will join a mass peaceful protest in a historic day at the border on Sunday, June 15.

Also en route to March to Gaza by sea is the Freedom Flotilla, with Greta Thunberg among the activists on board. 

They will collectively ask that Israeli blockades end to allow waiting food trucks through, to aid over 2 million Palestinians trapped in a forced famine while being hit with bombs and bullets.

Helen told the Leinster Express / Laois Live more.

"The march will take about two days, we will camp in the desert. Our aim is to try and negotiate to get aid, this is the point where aid trucks are not getting in. It is a visual show of support. 

"We are 600 days into a genocide, this is beyond politics. With our Irish history we can relate to what is happening. It's occupation, it's apartheid," she said.

She has visited Palestine twice before on humanitarian missions and has grown strong links with people there.

"I went out with a group to liaise on behalf of local people to the occupied West Bank. I'm the kind of person that I don't believe what I'm told, I need to go and see for myself. I saw with my own eyes that people are not allowed to walk on the street. We were even teargassed.

"I keep in contact with them. A refugee centre have a kids dance group coming to Ireland on a tour hopefully this year," Helen said.

She explains why she is taking the brave trip.

"I cannot stand to see any injustice to anyone in any situation. The Palestinian people are so resilient, and so kind. It's impossible not to feel for them. We are looking at this live on TikTok and Facebook. The narrative that was being pushed by Israel is not holding as tight, people can see what's happening. Politics aside there is literally a genocide happening in 2025. 

"The NGOs are all blocked from getting in to help. There's Irish health workers in there, in massive risk, with no supplies left. The last dialysis centre was bombed a few days ago. They are literally bombing people on the street. It's actually disgusting.

"It's frustrating too that our Government say they will get the Occupied Territories Bill through but they have diluted it, it will have a minimal effect now. We need to cut trade with Israel. Sanction them and hold them to account. If one country does it others will follow. It's so frustrating that they won't act," the Mountmellick mother said.

The March To Gaza is not only to demand an end to blockades.

"It also shows the Palestinian people that people care about them and are willing to do this, to stand with them. I am very proud that an Irish group is part of this. People are coming by land and by sea in a peaceful non-political statement," she said.

Asked what can people do to support the campaign, Helen simply asks for people to follow the event as it happens, spread the word to others and apply political pressure.

"There is an international website called www.MarchtoGaza.net.  There is also an Irish Instagram account called MarchtoGazaEire.  Please follow the channels, and raise it with politicians, to get it out there. We will be taking footage so people can see what's happening," she said.

Helen's children are supporting her mission.

"They're not surprised. Obviously they are afraid of the risk, but I'm not going over with the intention to provoke or to breach the border. They are kind of the same mind as me, we are very into equality. Every time I get a chance I will check in with them. They are proud of me too," Helen said.

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A draft UN resolution calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza by the United Nations Security Council, backed by all ten elected members, was blocked this week after the United States cast its veto.

A complete aid blockade was imposed by Israel on March 2, and the UN warns that food intake is "now well below what a human body needs to survive".