Pro-Palestinian rally this evening in Belfast

SEVERAL hundred people have gathered yesterday evening to protest agaist Israeli airstrikes against Palestinians in the Gaza strip.

The rally, which started at 7pm in front of Belfast City Hall, came as intense efforts were going on to broke a ceasefire between warring Israelis and Palestinians.

Up to 550 turned up and among those who has attended was Sinn Fein’s West Belfast MP Paul Maskey.

He had earlier urged people to come out and show their support for the Palestinians.

Police were yesterday alerted because of loyalist fury at the planned pro Gaza protest.

Loyalists were planning a counter demonstration at the City Hall which had been organised on Facebook.

Social networking sites claim the pro-Palestinian protest is “Shinners in another coat”, a reference to Sinn Fein’s support for the Palestinian cause.

However, the loyalist counter rally didn’t materialise.

One single mum who turned up to show support for the Israeli forces blasted the loyalists. “They are nothing but part-time computer generals.

“They should be out here protesting on behalf of the Israeli people not at home playing with their computers.”

Protestors carry Palestinian flags

While republicans support the Palestinians, loyalists have strong support for Israel and its attacks on the Gaza strip.

A similar impromptu protest was held at the City Hall last Thurday and it passed off peacefully.

But as the conflict in the Middle East increases, there is growing support along Northern Ireland’s divided political lines for both the Palestinians and Israelis.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will do “everything in its power” to avoid civilian casualties in the conflict with Hamas.

But he said Hamas was deliberately placing its rockets and missiles in civilian areas prior to launching them at Israel.

“There is no moral symmetry between Israel and the terrorists in Gaza,” he said during a televised news conference in Tel Aviv.

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Large pro-Palestinian crowd at City Hall

Hamas deliberately targets our children and they deliberately place their rockets next to their children. Now despite this reality – and it’s a difficult reality – Israel will continue to do everything in its power to avoid civilian casualties.”

He added that Israel would take “whatever action is necessary” to defend its citizens.