In a poignant pre-Christmas demonstration, activists have recreated a traditional Nativity scene in the heart of Dublin to draw urgent attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
A Nativity Amidst the Rubble
The event, titled the Gaza Solidarity Nativity, was organised by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign and took place on Saturday 20 December 2025. It was staged beside the iconic Molly Malone Statue on Suffolk Street, less than a week before Christmas Day.
Central to the display was a depiction of the baby Jesus lying not in a manger, but amidst symbolic rubble, directly linking the biblical story of birth under duress to the contemporary plight of Palestinians. Participants reflected that if Jesus were born today, he "would be born under siege, displaced, without access to medical treatment or nutrition".
Calls for Concrete Government Action
The gathering served as a platform for strong political statements. Zoe Lawlor, chairperson of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, issued a direct challenge to the Irish government. She stated that as a signatory to the 1948 Genocide Convention, Ireland is legally obliged to act to prevent genocide.
"The failure to sanction Israel, economically, politically and culturally is a breach of International Law," Lawlor asserted. She called for immediate legislative steps, including the enactment of the long-pending Occupied Territories Bill and the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill.
Further demands included ensuring no military supplies can pass through Irish airspace to Israel and an immediate end to the bilateral arms trade between the two nations.
A Gathering of Artists, Medics, and Voices
The event featured powerful performances from musicians and artists, including singer Molly May O’Leary and the Resistance Choir, poet Aine Hayden, and Gazan photojournalist Eman Mohammed.
In a striking visual statement, scores of doctors wearing stethoscopes attended, holding pictures of medical colleagues in Gaza who have been killed or detained since the conflict began.
Molly May O’Leary shared that, regardless of individual belief, the season symbolises hope in dark times. "So I think it’s really important that we gather here during these dark times for Palestine and try and have a little bit of hope for the future," she said.
As the event concluded, the focus turned to the coming year. Organisers expressed hope that in 2026, the Irish government would uphold election promises and the will of the Irish people by taking concrete action to sanction Israel and work towards peace and justice.
