TOUR DASHED

AS the world looks on in horror at the genocide unfolding in Gaza, attention has been distracted away from the West Bank.

- EXCLUSIVE BY PAUL McDAID

It's here Palestinians face daily deadly attacks from Israeli troops and fanatical settlers.

They are illegally evicted and must watch as their homes are then bulldozed, the land on which they stood stolen and built on by settlers.

Refugee camps are routinely raided with residents prevented from returning to their homes.

Since Benjamin Netanyahu launched his murderous onslaught in Gaza in October 2023, the UN says 945 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank and many more wounded or severely burned.

Amid the darkness, one light of hope has been Palestine GAA and since the club was started last year, dozens of children have taken hurling to their hearts.

Such was their progress and enthusiasm, a tour of Ireland was organised for this summer but at the 11th hour, the Government refused to issue visas.

Now some of those young hurlers have spoken to the Irish Mirror about the horrors of the lives under Israeli occupation, their love of hurling and their deep gratitude to the Irish people.

For fear of reprisals, we are not using their real names.

Khalid, 16

"Our life in the West Bank is full of raids by the occupation forces. I am a resident of a refugee camp.