Queer Dublin Writer Fasts 24 Hours to Honor Gaza Journalists Killed Amid Genocide

July 25, 2025 – Ireland/Palestine – 

GCN (Gay Community News) reported that Dublin-based queer journalist David Monaghan is undertaking a symbolic 24‑hour fast on July 29, as part of the ongoing Hunger for Justice: Gaza campaign. The initiative, coordinated by Nenagh Friends of Palestine and allied groups, involves a daily chain of volunteers refraining from food and drink (except water) for a full day, spotlighting the mass starvation facing Gaza’s population under blockade and bombardment.

Monaghan’s fast marks Day 412 of the rolling campaign, which has seen over 400 volunteers participate so far. His dedication is a tribute to Muntaser Al‑Sawaf, a Palestinian journalist killed in an Israeli airstrike, and to the 224 other journalists who have died covering the crisis in Gaza. In his remarks to GCN, Monaghan accused Israel of committing “genocide,” emphasizing the world’s collective indifference to Gaza’s suffering. He underscored the bravery of journalists on the ground who risk their lives to document atrocities, even as many Western media outlets remain silent.

Since April 15, 2024, the campaign has organized successive daily fasts involving numerous Irish volunteers and aligned solidarity groups—including branches in Kerry, Nenagh, Cloughjordan, and other areas—raising over €180,000 for the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and other aid efforts in Gaza. The campaign works to maintain public attention on Gaza’s dire humanitarian circumstances, amid widespread reports of famine, water and medical shortages, and civilian casualties. As of the fast’s launch, over 59,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023.

By linking queer activism and journalism with international solidarity, Monaghan’s participation in the Hunger for Justice fast amplifies the role of Irish LGBTQ+ media in political advocacy. His act is both a memorial to fallen journalists and an urgent call to action: to keep focus on Gaza, press for humanitarian intervention, and honor the courage of reporters risking everything to confront genocide.

Reference – 

Queer Dublin writer undertakes 24-hour fast to raise awareness of journalists killed in Gaza