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Pro-Palestine demonstrators tear down Israeli flag from Sheffield town hall
Two men sparked anger after ripping down the flag during a demonstration on Tuesday
October 11, 2023 10:16
Two men sparked anger after ripping down the flag during a demonstration on Tuesday
October 11, 2023 10:16Pro-Palestine demonstrators have sparked anger after tearing down an Israeli flag from a town hall flagpole.
Footage posted on social media showed two men scaling Sheffield town hall during a pro-Palestine rally at 6pm on Tuesday evening.
Several demonstrators can be heard shouting "take it down" and then cheering as the Israeli flag was lowered.
In the video, posted to X/Twitter, the flag is then thrown from the landmark 200ft high Victorian structure by one of the demonstrators.
The Palestinian flag was then raised on the pole but Sheffield City Council officers replaced it with a Union flag.
Council leader Tom Hunt condemned the incident and said: "Everyone has the right to safe and peaceful protest but we cannot support the events that took place during the protest outside Sheffield's town hall.
"Protesters put themselves and others in serious danger. We are a City of Sanctuary, and this is not what we stand for."
Palestinian supporters came out in numbers today to attend a march in Sheffield city centre.
— Sheffield Online (@onlinesheffield) October 10, 2023
After the council decided to raise the Israel flag on top of townhall, one of the supporters climbed on top of the townhall and replaced the flag with the Palestinian flag. #Sheffield pic.twitter.com/qc4qDZLMIH
The Labour politician added: "There are strong feelings about the situation in Israel and Palestine but we ask everyone to show respect and tolerance at this time. Our thoughts are with all those affected, including here in the UK.
"Terrorism is never justified. We call for peace and an end to attacks on innocent men, women and children in Israel and Palestine."
The Board of Deputies told the JC: “As is only right, the City of Sheffield raised the Israeli flag to display solidarity with the hundreds of innocent Israelis butchered in cold blood by Hamas terrorists.
"We hope this Hamas sympathiser will be swiftly brought to justice."
In a statement, Sheffield City Council said it had displayed the Israeli flag to show solidarity following Saturday’s Hamas terrorist attack on Israel.
They said the decision was taken in-line with the authority's flag protocol and in response to a request from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
The council said a full review of the incident was being undertaken, including an examination of security measures that were in place.
A South Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said officers attended reports of a public order incident at the town hall on Sheaf Street in Sheffield at around 6:20pm.
She said: "It is believed that two men climbed onto the roof of the building and removed the flag that was being flown.
"During officers' attendance and their attempts to disperse the crowds, minor disorder led to the two suspects fleeing the scene."
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