Run the Wall in support of peaceful resistance and an end to the war in Gaza

You can join the event in Newry tomorrow morning (Saturday) at 10am Newry City Hall. All abilities welcome for a gentle walk 3.6km or easy run, 7.9km around the city.

Warrenpoint’s Marathon Man Eamonn Murphy is no stranger to supporting this cause as he travelled to Palestine in 2017 to raise money for charities supporting the innocent victims of violence and oppression in the region and took part in the Palestine Marathon.

In April 2013, Amos Trust took a team to Bethlehem to run the first Right To Movement Palestine Marathon. Since then, the charity has brought people to run in solidarity with Palestinians, to demand their freedom of movement and to raise funds for their partners in Gaza and on the West Bank.

Run The Wall 2024 in Bethlehem Friday morning at the entrance to Aida Refugee camp. A refugee camp which has been in existence since 1948.

The route of the Palestine Marathon in Bethlehem is shaped by the 8-metre-high Separation Wall. At times, participants run alongside the Wall; at other times, it forces people to turn back and run in a different direction.

As there are not 26 miles of contiguous Palestinian state, runners start in Manger Square, run 6.5 miles to the edge of the Palestinian-controlled areas, and then go back to complete a half marathon. To do the full marathon, you have to run this route twice.

"The idea of ‘Run the Wall’ came about during Covid because nobody could travel to Palestine then,” Eamonn told the Reporter.

“The charity I’m involved with, AMOS Trust set up ‘Run the Wall, as they still needed donations for projects. The idea was to get people around the world to run the distance of the Israeli Separation Wall [which began being built in 2002 and spans around 750km]. It developed from there and even after Covid they decided to keep it going because it was a good way for people who would never get to Palestine to be involved.

At the moment there are over 700 people around the world registered and fundraising.”

This weekend would be the Palestine Marathon, which the organisers have moved this year to May - for obvious reasons. Eamonn recalls being there in 2017 and the difficulties even in getting to Palestine.

"You don’t fly into Palestine, you have to fly into Tel Aviv in Israel,” he said. “We were told not to wear any Palestinian colours or tee-shirts or anything that would even suggest that you’re doing the marathon, or you’ll be turned away. And even during the marathon the Israeli army diverted the route that day.”

"The money raised is used to support projects on the ground, mainly Youth Arts, the Holy Land Trust and Women’s Health all of the charities support nothing but peaceful protest. It’s very important to me that I highlight that.”