Alliance Party 'took the coward's way out by shunning vote on Palestine hunger strikers' says DUP councillor

Bradley Ferguson told the News Letter that the absence of any Alliance figures from Monday night's special meeting of Belfast City Council is indicative of a divide within the party, citing its decision to support the flying of the Palestine flag from City Hall in November, only to vote against it earlier this month.

Alliance has denied this, and said that its councillors were simply not available.

The sole motion under debate on Monday night’s meeting – which was called with mere hours to go – was brought by People Before Profit councillor Michael Collins, and seconded by Sinn Fein’s Ronan McLaughlin.

It read: “Council notes with deep concern the ongoing hunger strike of six Palestine solidarity activists in Britain.

"Two of these activists, Qesser Zuhrah and Amu Gib, are on their 51st day of hunger strike and are consequently in critical condition.

"Council calls on the British government to immediately allow medical access to all of the activists, to end the censorship of their communication from inside prison and to enter negotiations in earnest to ensure the hunger strike can come to an end before lives are lost.

"Council further calls on the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to intervene in their official capacity to relay these demands to the Prime Minister, on behalf of the council, and the sizeable Palestinian community for whom Belfast is home.”

SDLP councillor Paul Doherty said the matter at hand “is not a distant concern or a theoretical risk, it is an immediate threat to life – they are dying in custody and what we’re talking about tonight is basic humanity”.

DUP councillors meanwhile trashed the motion, pointing to what they said was a lack of connection between the motion and Belfast’s ratepayers.

When it came down to a vote, the motion passed by 28 votes to 13.

The Alliance Party issued a statement as proceedings got under way, saying: “This is a serious issue and one which requires proper discussion and consideration: that cannot be achieved at a council meeting convened at less than two hours’ notice.”

It said the meeting would “undoubtedly be another unseemly political spat, which does no justice to the seriousness of this issue,” adding: “Alliance has already placed its position on record regarding Israel and Gaza, and the party is writing to the UK government to emphasise the need for fair and humane treatment, and that all steps are taken to prevent any avoidable loss of life."

Councillor Ferguson has now told the News Letter: “It proves the position they're in.

"They had to pick a side and it would have been a difficult decision for them to pick a side.

"So rather than pick a side, they took the coward's way out and didn't attend at all.

"They have 11 councillors. I appreciate it was short notice – even if you couldn't have attended in person there's an online option.

"They could have attended online and voted that way, made their comments that way.”

He added: “It's no secret there's some internal issues for the Belfast City Council group...

"We've seen one month they voted in favour of the Palestinian flag, and the next month they changed their mind.

"So I think they're all over the place on this, and other matters – and it's being played out as we can see.

"Last night would've been another case where there'd have been a bit of infighting amongst themselves, and they were nowhere to be seen to try and save face.”

Reacting, Alliance said: “There was no dilemma for Alliance.

"The meeting was called with less than two hours’ notice and Alliance councillors were not available at such ridiculously short notice, due to work and childcare commitments.

"As predicted, the meeting was yet another unseemly political spat, which is no doubt what the DUP intended: the people of Palestine and the people of Belfast, frankly, deserve better."