Pro-Palestine activists held a demonstration on Sunday against an Israeli-affiliated medical conference being held in Malta.
The 33rd World Congress of the International Association of Communication Sciences and Disorders (IALP) is taking place at the Hilton Hotel in St Julian’s between August 24 and 28.
Activists say the organisers – the Israeli Speech, Hearing and Language Association ( ISHLA ), and Paragon Team – are deeply complicit with Israel’s escalating violations of human rights, with ISHLA allegedly having links to Israeli military reservists and including persons based in illegal settlements on Palestinian land.
Speaking in front of a crowd of people holding Palestinian flags in Spinola Gardens, across the road from the Hilton, Reuben Grima from NGO Ġustizzja Għal-Palestina, which organised the demonstration, highlighted the fact that Israeli bombardment had decimated Gaza’s healthcare system.
“Our message is a very simple one: stop the genocide in Gaza now. It is unbelievable in this day and age that we have to witness this barbarity after the promises of ‘never again’,” he said, referring to a phrase that emerged after the Holocaust.
Grima said that a statement was circulated to members of the IALP asking them to endorse the condemnation of Israel and express solidarity with healthcare workers in Gaza.
“What is at stake now is our very humanity – what the civilised world is prepared to tolerate. If those perpetrating these atrocities do not stop, the world has to make them stop,” he said.
Sammy Meilaq, former chairman of the Drydocks Council, said support for Palestine around the world was stronger than ever.
“Everyone knows that Israel is the biggest terrorist state in the world – the world champion of terrorism,” he said, comparing Israel’s policies to those of Nazi Germany.
Meilaq accused Prime Minister Robert Abela and Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg of being complicit with Israel.
“You don’t have to be a detective to realise that they have been captured by the United States. There is no other explanation for the refusal to condemn Israel,” he said.
He referred to a recent football match between Hamrun Spartans and Maccabi Tel Aviv. Activists had also demanded the game be cancelled but it went ahead.
Activist Yana Mintoff, Dom Mintoff’s daughter, condemned the Hilton and local companies involved in the conference.
“We want the government to grow a spine and decide whether to condemn Israel or be an accomplice in the violation of human rights,” she said.
Mintoff said letters had been sent to every member of parliament asking them to support sanctions against Israel.
“We have elections probably coming up in March. They need our votes.”
The rally was endorsed by Moviment Graffitti, PEN, The Lebanese Advocates, Watermelon Warriors, Aditus, LGBQTI+ (MGRM), KSM, Inizjamed, Blue Door Education, African Media Association Malta, Momentum, General Workers’ Union, Ghaqda Newtralita u Paci and ATAL.