The plan, tabled by the Independent Group of councillors, sought to fly the flag from the Dublin landmark “in an act of solidarity with the people of Gaza”. 

Members of Sinn Féin, People Before Profit and the Social Democrats supported the proposal but it failed to reach the 45 votes needed to be approved. 

The motion said, “With the continuing indiscriminate slaughter taking place in Gaza this council agrees to fly the Palestinian flag above City Hall for a week as a sign of solidarity. 

“The support for the Ukrainian people shown by Dublin City Council in the aftermath of the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine has set a precedent."

‘Peace flag’ 

A countermotion to fly a flag of peace was proposed, but councillors ran out of time before taking a vote on that measure. 

Fianna Fáil councillor Deirdre Heaney, who proposed the peace flag, said it would be a symbolic step that would support both sides in the conflict. 

“My part is on the side of peace,” she said. 

“We believe a flag of peace to be flown over city hall until such time a humanitarian ceasefire comes about is the right thing to do.” 

Ceasefire 

Earlier today, Independent Group Leader Cllr Cieran Perry told Newstalk he expected to see a majority of the council backing the move. 

He noted that over 9,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in the last three weeks, including over 3,600 children. 

“The flying of the Palestinian flag will show our disgust at the continuation of the Israeli genocide against the Palestinians, and hopefully encourage an immediate ceasefire,” he said. 

War 

Over 10,000 Palestinians, including 4,000 children, have been killed in nearly one month of Israeli bombings, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. 

Israel began its latest round of attacks after Hamas launched a major offensive on October 7th, killing 1,400 people in Israel and taking around 240 hostages back to Gaza. 

Yesterday, pro-Palestine protestors occupied the Department of Transport in Dublin urging the Government to prevent the US from using Shannon Airport to send weapons or munitions to Israel. 

Separately, Israeli authorities said they now believe an Irish child who was believed killed in the Hamas attack is alive and is being held hostage.

Main image: Dublin City Hall, Dublin. Image: Wikimedia Commons.