During a demonstration in Sheffield this week, protesters removed an Israeli flag from the Town Hall and replaced it with a Palestinian flag. Video footage of the event shows a man climbing onto the roof to remove the flag before throwing it down to a crowd of people below. The police have stated that they believe two men climbed the building during the demonstration.
The council had decided to fly the Israeli flag after receiving a request from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities asking local authorities to “consider the action,” according to a statement released by the council. The flag was flown to “show solidarity with the innocent people in that country who face faced appalling acts of terror”. The council has received criticism for the decision to fly the flag, which many protesters disagreed with.
South Yorkshire Police have confirmed that no arrests have been made at this time and that enquiries are ongoing. The incident has raised concerns about the security of the council building, with a “full review” set to be conducted in response. Leader of Sheffield City Council, Tom Hunt, has condemned the actions of the protesters, stating that they put themselves and others in “serious danger”.
The event occurred just three days after dozens of Hamas fighters crossed into Israel from Gaza in a surprise attack, which has led to the death toll in Israel reaching 1,200, and over 900 people have been killed by Israeli air strikes on Gaza in retaliation. politicians have called for long-term solutions to the violence and reiterated the importance of tolerance and respect in these discussions
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