Following a Sinn Féin proposal, councillor Ciaran Beattie has welcomed Belfast City Council’s announcement of a special council meeting to be held on Wednesday 29th November to mark International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Sinn Féin’s Belfast City Council party group leader said:

“I am delighted that following a proposal by Sinn Féin, Belfast City Council will hold a special meeting on International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people.

“This will be an important meeting to show support and solidarity for the Palestinian people, and echo calls for a ceasefire, an end to the siege and an urgent resolution of the humanitarian catastrophe.

“Global economic, political and diplomatic action is required to maximise the pressure on the Israeli government to end its bombardment and siege of Gaza. Ceasefires must be called. The humanitarian catastrophe must be immediately addressed. A decisive international peace intervention is required.

“The Israeli Ambassador’s position is now untenable and they should no longer enjoy diplomatic status in Ireland while Israel refuses the imperative for ceasefires and as the suffering and death toll grow. 

“Thousands of men, women and children are dead, injured and displaced as the Israeli military targets hospitals, schools and family homes.

“Palestinians face daily breaches of their basic human rights while living under occupation and apartheid.

“All of these actions are in breach of international and humanitarian law. They are not defensive actions; they are war crimes.

“The brutal, savage bombardment of Gaza must end and there must be an immediate ceasefire now.”