DUP MP Sammy Wilson and TUV leader Jim Allister criticised the demonstration
Kurtis Reid
The Department of Education has said it will be contacting a Belfast school for “further information” after videos and photographs were shared online of pupils holding a rally in support of Palestinians in Gaza.
Colaiste Feirste, which is the only Irish language speaking secondary school based in Belfast took to the social media website X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday to share images of pupils holding Palestinian flags with caption ‘Tacaíonn muid leis an Phalaistín’ which roughly translates to ‘We Support Palestine’.
The photographs were accompanied by a video of an apparent pupil who gave a speech entirely in Irish where the school reiterated its support for those living in Gaza.
In a statement to this newspaper, a spokesperson for the Department of Education said: “This issue has been drawn to the attention of the Department. We will be contacting the school to obtain further information on the matter.”
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Their investigation comes as DUP MP Sammy Wilson said he was planning on writing to the Department of Education after branding the photographs “abhorrent.”
“A full investigation must be held into the staff who facilitated this display. Schools cannot be allowed to become breeding grounds for the promotion of blood thirsty terrorism and anti-Jewish rhetoric,” he wrote on X, while sharing a post from an account who posted the footage and photos.
He told the Belfast Telegraph he noted the deletion of the original post and said: “The quick deleting of the post shows the school knows they were in the wrong to do this with the kids involved”.
The social media posts were later deleted and are no longer available on the school’s social media channel but was later replaced with a screenshot from a video of the pupil who gave the speech with a caption translated from Irish stating: “Some students organised a demonstration for the rights and justice of Palestine yesterday, showing the great humanitarian heart they have and their commitment to the people around the world.”
One of the students who organised the rally contacted the Belfast Telegraph, describing it as a “peaceful protest in solidarity with the people of Palestine”.
The student added the rally was “not an endorsement of Hamas or any other political organisation”.
A spokesperson from the PSNI confirmed they were aware of the social media images involving the school but it is understood no complaints have yet been received.
TUV leader Jim Allister meanwhile described the demonstration at the school as “shocking”.
“Every school has a responsibility to ensure that children are brought up and instilled with values which contribute to a better future for all society,” he said.
“This episode of exaltation of terrorism after the bloodthirsty exploits of Hamas is not just a shocking endorsement of terror but surely indicative of a teaching approach which engenders and fails to discourage such.”
Support for Palestinian territories and Gaza has been criticised in recent days following a surprise attack on Israel from Hamas. The terror group slaughtered hundreds at a music festival and throughout Israel, while scores of Israelis have been also been kidnapped.
Hundreds of Palestinians have also been killed over recent days amid airstrikes on Gaza.
Colaiste Feirste has been asked for comment.
