Over 200 people marched in Dublin yesterday to the Israeli embassy to protest against the Israeli bombardment of Lebanon. Calling for an end to the attacks, demonstrators chanted "Save the Children of Lebanon" and "We want peace".
Many Lebanese people on the march have families in Lebanon and described how they had been unable to contact them.
From the Central Bank to the Israeli embassy, cars, buses and taxis hooted horns in support.
Those marching also included Irish people, Palestinians, Iraqis, anti-war protesters and ex-Irish army peacekeepers.
Speakers at the embassy called for a show of solidarity with the people of Lebanon, The chant then went up "Ceasefire now".
The Lebanese anthem was sung. Several people wearing white T-shirts covered in red, lay on the ground as a symbolic "die-in" to highlight the deaths,followed by a minute's silence.
Organiser Dr Abdulah Sayegh said 400 civilians had been killed in Lebanon and many children.
His daughter Mona said both sides of the extended family were in the worse hit area in Beirut.
"Both families had to evacuate. We have everyone from all ages my great-grandfather and grandparents to new-born cousins. We haven't been able to contact Dad's family, but on the other side we know that there are seven families in a two-bedroom flat in the mountain area," she said.
Sabine Matta said her parents, brother and sister were from the northern part of Beirut. "We can't get in touch with them as the mobile phone network is down and they [ the Israelis] don't want them to tell the story," she said.
Her husband, Elias, said: "What I am afraid of is that the children who have been killed have brothers and sisters and this sows the seeds of conflict for the next generation."
Ciarán O'Neill, an Aer Rianta worker, said he was one of 88 Irish people who left Lebanon in the evacuation via Damascus.
Raji Ali Hassan said he had family in Lebanon. His sister was there and they did not know what has happened to her.
Rana Sayedh said her mother's family was from Beirut and contact was very difficult.
Afterwards, as people drifted away a more militant note crept in. A small group chanted "Close the embassy" and "Hizbullah".
This led to remonstrations with them by some Irish people. One of the group, Mohammed Sleiman, said: "I'm against the Israelis killing children and Israel being in the Middle East."