Belfast City Council hoisted the Palestinian flag above its headquarters in the early hours of Tuesday morning, following a contentious vote that concluded on Monday evening.
The motion, brought forward by Sinn Féin, secured approval with 32 councillors voting in favour and 28 against.
The flag was raised shortly after midnight, marking the end of a dispute that had delayed its original planned appearance.
An alternative proposal from the Alliance Party, which suggested lighting City Hall in Palestinian colours during January rather than displaying the flag itself, failed to gain traction. Councillors rejected this amendment decisively, with 49 voting against and just 11 in support.
Palestine flag outside Belfast City Hall
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The decision came after the council reconvened specifically to address the matter following earlier legal complications.
The flag had originally been scheduled to fly on Saturday, November 29, coinciding with the UN’s International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
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However, the display was halted after 12 unionist councillors triggered a formal call-in mechanism, demanding that their colleagues reconsider the decision.
Legal counsel subsequently advised the council that the original vote had not undergone equality screening beforehand and failed to account for workplace regulation obligations.
Belfast is a popular spot for pro-Palestine demonstrations
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PA
The call-in requisition argued that the matter was “plainly divisive and controversial” and had not been subject to a full equality impact assessment.
Unionist representatives contended that flying the Palestinian flag would alienate Belfast’s Jewish community, leaving them “feeling fearful and abandoned by their local council” as the decision appeared to take sides in an international conflict.
The initial council vote in November had demonstrated considerably stronger support for the measure, with 41 councillors backing the Sinn Féin proposal while only 15 opposed it.
Representatives from Sinn Féin, Alliance, the SDLP, the Green Party, and People Before Profit all voted in favour of erecting the Palestinian national flag.
Opposition came exclusively from unionist parties, with councillors from the DUP, UUP, and TUV voting against the motion.
The subsequent call-in procedure, which required Monday’s special meeting, saw support narrow significantly as the council was asked to weigh whether the decision created a disproportionate adverse impact on district inhabitants.
Despite the legal concerns raised, councillors ultimately reaffirmed their commitment to displaying the flag, albeit by a reduced margin.
Sinn Féin confirmed the agreement via social media, stating: “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.”
The decision prompted an immediate response from loyalist activist Jamie Bryson, who indicated legal action was being prepared.
Writing on Facebook, Mr Bryson claimed that both the DUP and TUV had raised serious doubts about whether the council solicitor’s position remained tenable.
He suggested that questions existed over whether legal decisions were being reached for partisan political reasons.
Mr Bryson described any forthcoming High Court challenge as potentially “career defining” for those involved, adding that it would take “a very brave person” to stand behind the legal decisions taken by the city solicitor on Monday evening.