7 key things you need to know as Palestine flag flown at Belfast City Hall

A special meeting of Belfast City Council took place on Monday evening for a vote on the move

Key things you need to know as Palestine flag flown at Belfast City Hall:

• The Palestine flag was flown at Belfast City Hall after midnight on Tuesday, December 2, after councillors voted for the move during an emergency meeting on Monday evening. A Sinn Fein motion to raise the flag on the next available day was passed by 32 votes to 28. An Alliance Party amendment proposing to illuminate City Hall in the colours of Palestine in January, rather than raising the flag, was defeated by 49 votes to 11.
• Last month, the council voted by a larger majority (41 votes to 15) to fly the flag on City Hall on November 29 to mark the UN international day of solidarity with the Palestinian people. However, that did not happen after the council received legal advice following a unionist move to initiate a call-in mechanism for the proposal to be reconsidered. Monday’s special meeting was called to vote on the decision again.
• While Sinn Fein welcomed the outcome of the vote, unionists expressed anger, with the TUV warning of emergency legal proceedings to challenge the decision.
• DUP group leader on the council, councillor Sarah Bunting, said the attempt to raise the flag was a “scandalous abuse of process.” She added: “This is a deeply divisive issue in Belfast, yet Sinn Fein and those who backed this move have shown no regard for the views of others and have simply railroaded their position through. Our small Jewish community will understandably view this as deeply intimidating and as a move that risks stoking antisemitism in our city. It is dangerous, it is cynical, and it must be called out for what it is.”
• Sinn Fein said: “In the face of Israel’s barbaric and inhumane genocide, we must continue to do all we can to show solidarity with the besieged people of Gaza”, while People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll added: “Despite the best efforts of the DUP and TUV to delay democracy, the Palestinian flag went up at Belfast City Hall just after midnight. Solidarity prevails over bigotry and sectarianism. Belfast stands with Palestine and always will.”
• A group of protesters gathered outside Belfast City Hall on Monday evening into Tuesday morning as the flag was raised. Police attended the scene.
• READ THE FULL STORY: Palestine flag flies at Belfast City Hall after acrimonious debate.

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