Canterbury-Bankstown council votes to fly Palestine flag in support of Gaza residents

There was overwhelming support for the gesture that sends a clear message to the residents of Gaza.

A Sydney council has unanimously agreed to show their support for the residents of Gaza and fly the Palestinian flag.

Canterbury-Bankstown council has voted to raise the flag over Paul Keating Park in Bankstown and the Campsie administration building until a ceasefire is declared in Palestine.

Labor councillor Karl Saleh tabled the motion at Tuesday night’s council meeting as a “mark of respect” and to “convey their condolences” to the more than 5000 Palestinians killed in the conflict.

“The media often ask, do we condemn all acts of violence targeting civilians and of course we condemn terrorism and violence in any form,” he said.

Canterbury-Bankstown council has voted to fly the Palestine flag. Picture: Supplied

“Of course we have no place for anti-Semitism or Islamophobia in our city but let’s not pretend that the Palestinians have only been suffering since the seventh of October this year.”

He also suggested plans to create a space at the park close to the flagpoles where locals can pay their respects by laying wreaths and flowers.

The move comes as another Sydney council backflips on its decision to fly the Palestinian flag as part of honouring International Day of Solidarity in November.

Randwick councillor Daniel Rosenfeld brought forward the urgent motion to reverse the decision after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, fearing it would be disrespectful to the area’s large Jewish community.

A massive crowd turns out in Sydney in support of the end of the Palestinian and Israeli conflict. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

“Hamas atrocities really deeply affected the Jewish community,” he said during Monday night’s council meeting.

“Fourteen-hundred people of my fellow Jewish persons were slaughtered on October 7, 200 more were abducted.”

A fierce debate ensued and the motion was opposed by the mayor and three councillors.

Mr Rosenfeld, whose grandparents were Holocaust survivors, said the recent pro-Palestine protests in Australia had caused anguish for many Jewish people, including himself.

Randwick council area is home to two synagogues, a Jewish high school, primary school and an aged-care provider.

The council held a minute’s silence at the end of the meeting in honour of all those affected by the war, including the Palestinian community.