Mark SimpsonCommunity correspondent, BBC News NI

Getty Images The exterior of Belfast City Hall. It is a large, white Victorian building with blue-domed roofs. There is a large statue of Queen Victoria outside of the main entrance. There is a large statue of an old man to the right of the building, which sits on a neat square of green grass. Getty Images

The flying of the flag was first approved at a meeting of the council at the start of November

Belfast City Council has voted in favour of flying the Palestinian flag above City Hall.

The proposal from Sinn Féin was passed by 32 to 28 votes, and the party has requested that the flag goes up later.

The Palestinian flag had been due to be flown on Saturday but it did not appear after the council received legal advice on the issue.

The council had voted last month by an overwhelming majority to fly the flag but unionists objected, and then used the call-in procedure at City Hall to challenge the legitimacy of the decision.

The legal advice over the flag flying was published on Belfast City Council’s website.

It states that “the decision was not arrived at after a proper consideration of relevant facts and issues”.

Other options explored

The 60-member council revisited the issue at a special meeting on Monday evening ahead of its monthly meeting, however this vote was much closer than the original motion.

The Alliance Party backed the original proposal, however on Monday it suggested illuminating the City Hall in Palestinian colours in the New Year.

They voted against the flag flying, but it was supported by the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) and Green Party, as well as Sinn Féin.

It is not clear exactly when the Palestinian flag will appear.

Sinn Féin’s proposal suggested it go up at midnight, but for logistical reasons, it is thought to be unlikely.

Sarah is standing in large room and in the background there is a black and white tiled floor. Sarah is wearing glasses and has her hair tied back

Sarah Bunting said flying the flag would “risk creating further division”

The original plan to fly the flag was proposed by Sinn Féin councillor Ryan Murphy to mark the United Nations “international day of solidarity with the people of Palestine”.

“In light of the continued genocide against the people of Gaza, it is right that we show solidarity and support to them,” he said.

With 22 representatives on the council, Sinn Féin is the largest party at City Hall.

Defending unionist objections, the leader of the DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) at City Hall, Sarah Bunting, said: “Belfast City Hall represents everyone in our city. Flying the Palestinian flag would draw us into a deeply contested international conflict and risk creating further division here at home.”

A detailed legal analysis of the plan to fly the Palestinian flag was distributed to councillors last week.

They were told “the call-in was considered by counsel to have merit on procedural grounds but not on community impact grounds”.

Monday’s monthly meeting is the last scheduled session of the full council this year.