Painful, powerful and proud parallels

COMMON Threads, the recent talk by Dr Manal Shqair and Dr Niamh Coffey on Palestinian and Irish women’s activism and resistance in their countries’ struggles against colonial occupation and oppression attracted a large, appreciative audience who engaged with the subject and asked pertinent questions.

The aim of the talk was to highlight the essential role played by women in both the Irish and Palestinian struggles, to identify resistance strategies and establish parallels and commonalities in both struggles. The quality and breadth of both presentations ensured this aim was met.

Shared struggles

Both presenters started with an outline of the background history to their countries’ struggles.

Dr Coffey spoke at length about Cumann na mBan and its branches over the Irish Sea—referencing Margaret Skinnider and her active service in Scotland and Ireland. She discussed other women such as ‘Mother Flanagan’ who was known for her discretion in sheltering and caring for volunteers.

Dr Shqair pointed out that Palestinian women’s public struggle focused on the anti-colonial struggle for national liberation, which meant women’s rights were secondary to national liberation. She discussed the Palestine Women’s Union formed in 1921 to organise and make women’s voices heard and, during the 1929 Al Buraq revolt, the presence of large numbers of women in street demonstrations. In the Great Revolution of 1936-39, women were involved in gun-running, trained for active service and smuggled food and clothing to male fighters. During the Nakba, women’s roles were central in keeping the family and social fabric together. The formation of the General Union of Palestine Women in 1965 like Cumann na mBan was the catalyst for women’s involvement in armed resistance. There was recognition that Palestinian women should be mobilised, educated and trained into the revolution. Like Countess Markievicz, Leila Khaled, was an icon of the resistance.

Women’s roles

In Ireland and Palestine women’s roles involved direct participation in the struggles. Irishwomen were gun-runners, lookouts for volunteers participating in revolutionary activity. They provided safe houses, cover for men evading arrest and medical assistance for those injured. Women used their motherhood to decrease the chance of detection by the authorities. For example, Sheila Browne from Liverpool recalled that she and other Cumann na mBan members hid weapons in their babies’ prams to transport them across the city. Women used their femininity by posing with male volunteers, passing themselves off as courting couples and blending in so as not to attract attention from the authorities. Women’s homes and business premises were used to store armaments, explosives and propaganda materials and as safe meeting spaces.

In Palestine, women were trained to become resistance fighters, they took part in high profile actions and commanded operations. Palestinian freedom fighter, Amina Dahbour, took part in the attack on El Al Flight 432. In the first Intifada, Palestinian women had central leadership roles in programmes of civil disobedience. Women actively challenged armed Israeli forces and protected children and youths from being forcibly detained. The Oslo Accords, however, saw a change in direction and women were excluded from the project by the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and later by the Palestine Authority.

In common, we see Irish and Palestinian women engaging in acts such as armed resistance, gun-running, arms smuggling, intelligence gathering and civil disobedience. Acts of resistance in both contexts take place within the setting of the family and women rely on kinship ties for help, support and back-up. Resistance is organised and practised collaboratively. Palestinian women also practice SUMUD meaning steadfastness or perseverance. This can involve individual or collective action.

Strength in adversity

What happened to the Irishwomen after 1923? Some were able to return to their lives in Britain, but others faced business boycotts, job losses, and overwhelming hostility within their communities, including neighbours calling for them to be tried for treason. Some made new lives in Ireland and others emigrated to the US, Australia and Canada. Lena and Kathy McDonald—active members of the IRA and Cumann na mBan respectively—emigrated to the US. Some suffered with long-term health conditions as a result of injuries received during the armed struggle, while others’ health was damaged due to the harsh conditions they endured while imprisoned.

For Palestinian women the struggle continues and after October 2023 they face increased Israeli aggression and violence. This takes the form of sexual aggression, terrifying women going about their daily business and blockading homes so women are forced to remain indoors. Women practice SUMUD by telling husbands they do not fear sexual aggression and resist by maintaining the integrity of the family unit and refusing to be forced out of their homes in the face of attack. Following the killing of Awdah al-Hathaleen by an Israeli settler on July 28, 2025, women in the village of Um El-Khair, Masafer Yatta went on collective hunger strike to demand the return of his body. In the Gaza Strip, Fatima Abu Khammash’s son was killed in July 2026. She walked towards Israeli gunfire to retrieve her son’s body parts for burial.

Common features

Common features between the experiences of the women include the dispersal of Irishwomen from Scotland to Ireland and abroad and the forced dispossession of Palestinian women and their families.

A further common feature is the rise of distinctive female fighters in Ireland’s, Constance Markiewicz and Palestine’s, Leila Khaled.

In both countries, family and inter-generational connections exist within the resistance movements ensuring continuity of support.

Reprisals represent an additional common feature. Irishwomen experienced retribution in the destruction of their homes as in the Sacking of Balbriggan in 1920. Terrified families fled the city for the fields. Two women died of exposure, two had miscarriages and four sick infants died.

This year Israeli settlers attacked residents in the town of Tal. During the altercation Palestinians tried to defend their dwellings. Four Palestinians, a settler and an Israeli soldier were killed. This precipitated further settler reprisals. They attacked Palestinians, burned homes and vehicles and the Israeli army instigated a wide-ranging military operation.

Colonisation continues

Two closing thoughts. Ireland still has six counties occupied. Palestine has hope and determination to survive and defeat settler colonisation.

A last word from Aaron Rowe, the young Irish musician who quit Ed Sheeran’s Loop tour. The powerful cannot be allowed “...to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide and who highlight the savage murder of children. I need to be true to myself and my ancestors who resisted colonisation and fought for a freedom that I enjoy today in Ireland.”

Nicoletta Barry is a member of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign