Belfast City Council approved a bill calling for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador from Northern Ireland and Britain, and a demonstration was held in front of the Irish Foreign Ministry in Dublin.
A motion is to be brought before Belfast City Council that could see the local authority urge the UK and Irish Governments to immediately expel Israeli ambassadors.
It comes following 11 days of violence between Israelis and Palestinians during which at least 250 people were killed, with the majority of the deaths Palestinians in Gaza.
Hamas fired more than 4,000 rockets towards Israel, who launched hundreds of air attacks against targets in Gaza. The Hamas rockets claimed 12 lives in Israel, including two children, while the Israeli strikes killed 243 Palestinians, including 66 children.
A ceasefire was eventually brokered, with both Hamas and Israel declaring victory.
Just last week, the Dail voted to condemn Israel’s “de facto annexation” of Palestinian land — thought to be the first use of the phrase by an EU government in relation to Israel.
Members rejected, however, an amendment by People Before Profit (PBP) to expel the Israeli ambassador. Last Monday, Stormont MLAs also discussed the latest round of Israeli-Palestinian violence.
The Belfast City Council motion, to be debated on Tuesday night, has been tabled by PBP councillor Fiona Ferguson.
It states that Israel’s military operation in Gaza amounts to the “ongoing ethnic cleansing of Palestinians”, and “illegal settlement expansion, represents flagrant breaches of international law”.
“That a growing list of human rights organisations have determined that Israel’s action amount to apartheid, including the latest report by Human Rights Watch,” it reads.
“That normal co-operation with the Israeli state is therefore untenable in these circumstances.
“The council recognises the rich history of solidarity and activism in this city from all communities for Palestine, including very recently when a huge demonstration called for an end to Israeli mistreatment of the Palestinians; and that such solidarity on the part of our citizens can be an important tool in dismantling support for Israel’s actions.