Arrests after loyalist and pro-Palestine rallies

A crowd gathered below Belfast City Hall, a large ornate building with featuring a prominent green copper dome at its center and towers at each of its four corners. A Christmas is tree and stalls are in front of it. The crowd are wearing winter attire and a multitude of UK and Ulster flags can be seen. Pacemaker

The PSNI said an "evidence-gathering operation" was in place at each protest

Kevin Sharkey and Auryn CoxBBC News NI

Two arrests were made after Pro-Palestinian and loyalist groups assembled outside Belfast City Hall on Saturday afternoon.

Hundreds attended the demonstrations and a buffer zone was set up between them outside the front gate of the city hall by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

Pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli speeches and chants could be heard simultaneously.

One person was arrested for public order related offences and another was arrested following a report of an assault, the PSNI said.

A man with a black beard, baseball cap, black top and sunglasses waves and Israel flag stands above a crowd of protesters. A man to his left also dressed all in black is speaking into a megaphone. The protesters are waving UK flags and Israel flags. They are in front of the Belfast Christmas market, the top of stalls can be seen in the background with some fairly lights on them. Police stand in front of the protesters in the foreground. Reuters

Pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli speeches and chants could be heard simultaneously outside Belfast City Hall

A PSNI spokesperson added that an "evidence-gathering operation" was in place at each protest and the footage will be reviewed to consider any potential offences.

"The right to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are fundamental human rights which are protected in law and allow individuals to engage in peaceful protest," they said.

"However, these rights are limited by the need to uphold the rights of others, protect public health and safety, minimise disruption to normal life and by the need to prevent and detect crime."

An older woman with short dirty blonde hair in a red top wearing a face mask and scarf is speaking into a megaphone and pointing. The megaphone has Palestine flags on it. Behind her people are walking up in the street in a procession. It is winter in Belfast, many have coats on and a Palestine flag and Irish tricolor can be seen. Getty Images

Pro-Palestine activists were among the groups which converged on Belfast City Hall

Three separate demonstrations took place in the vicinity of Belfast City Hall on Saturday afternoon. The Parades Commission had been notified of each.

A separate parade was organised by the 1642 Boyne Bridge Defenders Historical Group who marched over Durham Street, which reopened on Saturday morning.

Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International's Northern Ireland Director, addressed the pro-Palestinian activists outside city hall.

"It matters little that the Palestinian flag is not flying over city hall today," he said.

"What matters is that the citizens of Belfast are here in their thousands to stand in solidarity with a people facing an ongoing genocide."

A PSNI car and van along with officers are in front of a procession of people who are waving a variety of flags. They are marching beneath a mural of King William III.Pacemaker

A parade marched over Durham Street, which reopened on Saturday morning

The current military campaign in Gaza began following a Hamas-led attack on Israel 7 October 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were abducted.

Israel responded by launching ground and air strikes which have led to more than 70,000 deaths so far, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

In September, the world's leading association of genocide scholars declared that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, which the Israeli government denies.

At the time, the UN and some Western nations said that they would only consider a ruling by a court that genocide is taking place as authoritative.

A procession waving UK and Israel flags walk down a city street. A crowd of onlookers in winter attire can be seen recording the procession on their phones. Pacemaker

Three separate demonstrations took place in the vicinity of Belfast City Hall

On Saturday, a banner which could be seen among the Palestinian supporters stated, "End war, end genocide" while a pro-Israeli group gathered behind a banner which said, "We love Israel".

Traffic continued to move around Belfast City Hall during the demonstrations while Christmas shoppers watched from nearby streets.

The Belfast Christmas Market continued inside the grounds of the city hall.

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