A protest in support of Palestine forced a clothing retailer in Belfast city centre to shut on Saturday.
Protestors entered the Zara premises in Donegall Place at lunchtime to hand out leaflets before protesting outside for about an hour waving Palestinian flags.
Palestine supporters protest outside Zara in Donegall Place. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN
Organised by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign along with Trade Union Friends of Palestine and Jews for Palestine – Ireland, the ‘Boycott Zara’ rally was in response to the retailer’s alleged support of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, with a poster for Saturday’s protest stating ‘Zara Supports Racist Ben-Gvir’.
Police arrived at the end of the protest but didn’t intervene.
Police arrived at the end of the protest but didn’t intervene. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN
In a statement, a PSNI spokesperson said: “Police received a report of an ongoing protest inside retail premises on Donegall Place, Belfast city centre, at around 12.30pm on Saturday, May 9.
“On officer attendance, approximately ten people were outside the premises, which had been temporarily closed.
“No offences were disclosed and the protest ended a short time later.”
Zara has been approached for comment.