Israeli military flags erected in Co Derry village linked to fighter jet parts manufacture

 The appearance of “despicable” flags of the Israeli military in a mixed Co Derry village has been condemned.

The Israeli Defence Force flags were erected in the Castledawson area in recent days.

One of the flags has been hung from a lamppost at a junction close to the village, while a second has been hoisted in the village itself.

An Israeli flag has also been put up at a junction close to an engineering firm linked to the production of fighter jets used by Israel.

Last month pro-Palestinian protesters took part in the ‘Mid Ulster March Against Genocide’ from Magherafelt to Castledawson, forcing the closure of the main Derry to Belfast road for a time.

A protest was then held outside local firm Moyola Precision Engineering.

Campaigners claim the well-known company produces component parts for F-35 fighter jets used by Israeli forces to target civilians in Gaza.

Around 65,000 Palestinians, including thousands of women and children, have been killed by Israeli forces during their onslaught in the region.

Hundreds more have starved to death as a result of Israeli blockades on food supplies.

Israel launched the current operation after around 1,200 people were killed during a Hamas-led attack inside Israeli territory in October 2023, during which around 200 hostages were taken.

Saoirse O’Neill from the Mid Ulster Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign said: “The shameful flying of IDF flags follows a historic UN ruling that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, perpetrated by the IDF.

“The people of Mid Ulster have been steadfast in their opposition to genocide.

“This petty display follows a large march in Mid Ulster where people from all backgrounds united to voice their horror at the genocide and protest local factory Moyola Precision Engineering creating parts for warplanes that bomb children.”

Ms O’Neill said the “despicable flags are not representative of Castledawson or the wider area”.

“Our communities are united against genocide, and this unity is clearly a frightening prospect for those who have hung them.”

A spokesman for Moyola Precision Engineering said the firm “does not supply, or has ever supplied, any Israeli companies with parts or services”.

“Despite the references that some are making to multi-year historical funding from Invest NI; Moyola has never received funding from Invest NI or other government bodies in support of the F-35 program, either directly or indirectly,” the spokesman said.

“At all times in its history, Moyola has contributed multiple times more to the economy in corporation tax, rates, employers’ national insurance and employment skills compared to the government support that it has received.”