Jews in Glasgow have expressed anger at the city council’s decision to fly the Palestinian flag.

The council has raised the flag over the City Chambers today in what it calls a show of support “for the innocent people who are being hurt in Gaza”.

In a letter to the mayor of Bethlehem, Glasgow’s Lord Provost Sadie Docherty said the move was a gesture of “solidarity with Bethlehem and Palestine”. Glasgow is twinned with the West Bank city.

Paul Morron, president of the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council, said the decision had angered and hurt the city’s Jews.

In a statement, he said: “Flying the flag is the worst kind of gesture politics. It does nothing to alleviate the suffering on either side of the conflict, nor does it bring peace closer by one single minute.”

He added that the council had failed to emulate the spirit of inclusivity and unity seen at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow earlier this month.

Mr Morron discussed the issue yesterday with the council's leader and deputy leader at a meeting which he described as "useful and worthwhile".

He said: "The council understood our position much better, but there wasn't a meeting of minds. We made it clear that flying the flag is a political gesture of a partisan nature and unacceptable."

The flag will be flown throughout the day and is due to be lowered at 5pm.