Irish activist Tara O’Grady expressed her solidarity with the Lebanese people by waving the Irish flag in Beirut, asserting her support for their resistance against the ongoing aerial offensives by Israel. O’Grady drew a parallel between Lebanese leader Hassan Nasrallah and the early 20th-century Irish revolutionary Michael Collins, highlighting the shared struggles of their peoples.
As she spoke with The Associated Press, the atmosphere was charged, with Israeli warplanes flying low over Beirut while a procession honoured Nasrallah, whose legacy sparked chants from the crowd proclaiming “Death to Israel” and “At your service, Nasrallah.” These sentiments underscored the deep emotions surrounding the conflict.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz responded to the aerial presence by asserting that the flyover served as a warning to those who threaten Israel. He emphasised the gravity of the situation, stating that those who pose a danger to Israel will meet a swift end.
In a show of force, the Israeli military conducted multiple strikes in southern and eastern Lebanon, both before and during the funeral proceedings, reflecting the ongoing volatility in the region. Additionally, on the same day, they released a video purportedly capturing the airstrike that led to Nasrallah’s death alongside several high-ranking officials from his group on September 27, 2024.
This event reiterates the continued tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, with both sides engaged in a struggle marked by violence and tragic losses. O’Grady’s presence in Beirut serves as a reminder of the international dimension of the conflict, where global activists stand in solidarity with local causes against what they perceive as oppressive actions. The atmosphere at the funeral, filled with defiance and calls for resistance, encapsulates the broader narrative of conflict in the region, one that is deeply intertwined with historical grievances and contemporary struggles.