Oxford: Broken flagpole preventing Palestinian tribute, council says

The Town Hall's pole is one of three used on specific occasions

A broken flagpole at Oxford's town hall has prevented a tribute to the Palestinian victims of the conflict in Gaza, the city council has said.

Independent councillor Amar Latif said it was "disappointing" the city's flag could not be flown at half mast.

Oxford's city flag was flown at half-mast to mark the loss of Israeli life on 7 October and condemn Hamas.

The council said it would fly the city flag when the the pole was repaired.

Oxford City Council maintains three flagpoles used for flag flying on specific occasions - the town hall, the town hall's extension, and Carfax Tower.

'Sorrow and distress'

A council statement confirmed Oxford Town Hall's pole was "currently out of action pending repair".

"The other two are still being used to mark pre-determined events and commemorations," it continued.

"When the flagpole is fixed we will fly the city flag at half mast, as we did in October, to reflect our sorrow and distress at the loss of life in Gaza."

Mr Latif, who split from the Labour Party in October over its stance on the Gaza conflict, said: "It is disappointing that the council seems not to have prioritised the fixing of the flag pole in order to recognise the devastating killing of 24,000 civilians in Gaza, more than half of whom are children and women.

"I do sincerely hope the council's lack of action is not politically motivated."

The council has not confirmed whether it intends to fly a Palestinian flag on the Town Hall extension pole, currently in working order, where the Ukraine, Windrush and Pride flags have previously been flown.

Oxford is twinned with the city of Ramallah, the de facto Palestinian capital of the West Bank.

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