https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cev8ev10d1wo

Two arrests were made after Pro-Palestinian and loyalist groups assembled outside Belfast City Hall on Saturday afternoon.

Hundreds attended the demonstrations and a buffer zone was set up between them outside the front gate of the city hall by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

Pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli speeches and chants could be heard simultaneously.

One person was arrested for public order related offences and another was arrested following a report of an assault, the PSNI said.
A man with a black beard, baseball cap, black top and sunglasses waves and Israel flag stands above a crowd of protesters. A man to his left also dressed all in black is speaking into a megaphone. The protesters are waving UK flags and Israel flags. They are in front of the Belfast Christmas market, the top of stalls can be seen in the background with some fairly lights on them. Police stand in front of the protesters in the foreground. Image source, Reuters
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Pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli speeches and chants could be heard simultaneously outside Belfast City Hall

A PSNI spokesperson added that an "evidence-gathering operation" was in place at each protest and the footage will be reviewed to consider any potential offences.

"The right to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are fundamental human rights which are protected in law and allow individuals to engage in peaceful protest," they said.

"However, these rights are limited by the need to uphold the rights of others, protect public health and safety, minimise disruption to normal life and by the need to prevent and detect crime."
An older woman with short dirty blonde hair in a red top wearing a face mask and scarf is speaking into a megaphone and pointing. The megaphone has Palestine flags on it. Behind her people are walking up in the street in a procession. It is winter in Belfast, many have coats on and a Palestine flag and Irish tricolor can be seen. Image source, Getty Images
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Pro-Palestine activists were among the groups which converged on Belfast City Hall

Three separate demonstrations took place in the vicinity of Belfast City Hall on Saturday afternoon. The Parades Commission had been notified of each.

A separate parade was organised by the 1642 Boyne Bridge Defenders Historical Group who marched over Durham Street, which reopened on Saturday morning.

Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International's Northern Ireland Director, addressed the pro-Palestinian activists outside city hall.

"It matters little that the Palestinian flag is not flying over city hall today," he said.

"What matters is that the citizens of Belfast are here in their thousands to stand in solidarity with a people facing an ongoing genocide."
A PSNI car and van along with officers are in front of a procession of people who are waving a variety of flags. They are marching beneath a mural of King William III.Image source, Pacemaker
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A parade marched over Durham Street, which reopened on Saturday morning

The current military campaign in Gaza began following a Hamas-led attack on Israel 7 October 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were abducted.

Israel responded by launching ground and air strikes which have led to more than 70,000 deaths so far, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

In September, the world's leading association of genocide scholars declared that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, which the Israeli government denies.

At the time, the UN and some Western nations said that they would only consider a ruling by a court that genocide is taking place as authoritative.
A procession waving UK and Israel flags walk down a city street. A crowd of onlookers in winter attire can be seen recording the procession on their phones. Image source, Pacemaker
Image caption,

Three separate demonstrations took place in the vicinity of Belfast City Hall

On Saturday, a banner which could be seen among the Palestinian supporters stated, "End war, end genocide" while a pro-Israeli group gathered behind a banner which said, "We love Israel".

Traffic continued to move around Belfast City Hall during the demonstrations while Christmas shoppers watched from nearby streets.

The Belfast Christmas Market continued inside the grounds of the city hall.

by YourDasSidePiece

10 comments

  1. Does nobody have anything better to be at on a Saturday afternoon?

  2. If I paid the extortionate rent for a stall at the Christmas market, I’d be pretty fucking angry that these knuckle draggers turned up at it. The stall holders should demand a refund. We stayed away because we had our 4 year old granddaughter with us and didn’t want to explain the whole thing.

  3. I really don’t understand the “minimise disruption to normal life”. Like, is there some fundamental right to ensure every day is exactly the same?

  4. That’s a hell of a BBC “both sides” headline. Was there one arrest from the pro-Palestine side and one arrest from the pro-genocide side?

    I was on the pro-Palestine side and didn’t see any aggressive behaviour. I turned up at the pro-genocide protest that had gathered before the IPSC march arrived at City Hall and they had some pure melters shouting the most offensive hate speech imaginable down a couple of PA systems.

    One was a Bible-thumping ranter going on about how the Muslim Christ-deniers want to impose Sharia law on Belfast, the other was a melt with a loudspeaker shouting “Allah, Allah, who the fuck is Allah?”

    Going out on a limb here but I’m guessing both arrests were only at one of those protests.

    Unless the brave officers of the PSNI caught a granny putting removable stickers on an ATM again.

  6. Absolute clowns carrying either an Israel or Palestine flag in Belfast.  Achieved absolutely zero.  The worst thing for these types is that the only progress made has been as a result of President Trumps intervention.  I don’t see any US flags been carried in celebration…

  7. God forbid a man just wants in to the Christmas market for an overpriced burger and crêpe

  8. Here’s an idea: find something that truly fulfills your life with enrichment and enjoyment. Those you protest for or against, including your politician, don’t give a fuck about you. The country you support or oppose doesn’t give a fuck either. In fact, nobody really gives a fuck about you. Out of 8 billion people on the planet, the only one who truly cares for you is yourself.

  9. Can we not pack this shite in for Christmas at least? Netanyahu only cares what Trump thinks. He doesn’t give a toss about N.I, R.O.I, Starmer or even the EU.

  10. There was a old lad outside where McDonalds use to be spitting at us in the Palestine protest as we were passing, hope it was that disgusting lad.

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