Councils fly Israel flags in sign of solidarity following violence

Hertsmere Borough Council wants to show its "support" and "compassion" following the violence

Council offices have been lit blue and white while flying an Israeli flag amid ongoing violence in Israel and Gaza.

Hertsmere Borough Council as well as Elstree and Borehamwood made the displays of solidarity from Monday.

According to the 2021 census, 17% of the borough of Hertsmere identify as Jewish, while Borehamwood is twinned with the town of Shoham in Israel.

Jeremy Newark, from Hertsmere Council, said he wanted to support victims and "bolster community relations" locally.

Hundreds of lives have been lost in Israel and Gaza in recent days.

Council leader Mr Newark, who arranged the display, said he would not allow the "politics of hatred spill over on to our streets".

Rebecca Challice, mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood, represented the council on Monday at a vigil in Downing Street

In a statement shared online, Mr Newark said he hoped by sending a strong message of solidarity, he could deter "those who seek to import this conflict on to the streets of Hertsmere".

Hertsmere Borough Council said it was working in partnership with the Community Security Trust to ensure that people locally felt safe.

Mr Newark said: "I'm incredibly proud of the way in which colleagues from across the political spectrum and beyond have reacted to reassure our community that we will not allow the politics of hatred spill over on to our streets."

Borehamwood mayor Rebecca Challice said she had spoken to her counterpart in Shoham to offer her solidarity.