Derry and Strabane District Council representatives got involved in a heated discussion about the protest that took place at yesterday’s Full Council Meeting.

The issue was raised by Alderman Niree McMorris at the reconvened Full Council meeting on 23 November.

“I want to make a reference to a few issues in relation to things that I heard since that event,” the DUP alderman said.

WATCH: Protestor confronts Alderman Hussey for not standing during minutes silence for dead Palestinian children

“I was really, really disheartened and disappointed to hear that a councillor in this chamber was actually advocating for civil disobedience. Not only were they justifying the civil disobedience that happened yesterday, but they actually called for a ratcheting up of civil disobedience. That makes me concerned.

“I personally believe those comments incite violence and they incite hatred and I am really, really disappointed those are the kind of comments coming out of this chamber.

She said the council would probably have to investigate how people got access to the chamber during the protest.

“I'd also like to say on another note, not only were we all really intimidated and felt really threatened yesterday I felt that we had to leave the chamber. I felt that this wasn't a safe place for us to be, and I'm not sure it's a safe place even today, or even going forward based on certain people's comments.”

She said a sexist comment was left on a post on a Facebook page called Derry to Palestine about a DUP Alderman.

She said the comment read: “Did anyone get a pic of the dog, Big Julie? She normally not out without a lead or collar.”

“That is my colleague. Disgusting, misogynistic language. I can't tell you how appalled I am to read that about one of the nicest girls you'll ever meet in your life.”

She addressed the controversy surrounding Alderman Derek Hussey who was confronted by a protester for not standing for the minute's silence with most of the other people in the chamber.

“With regards to the minute's silence, other people have come to me and said it has never been a practice of this chamber to stand for a minute's silence and there was reference to say that nobody stood in regards to Bloody Sunday or the Claudy victims.”

“We were asked to observe a minute's silence, which we all did. Whether we stood or not has no bearing on the abuse, and the tirade of threats and aggression that this chamber received.”

She said she spoke to the police about the matter of ald Hussey being shouted at and the Facebook comment.

Watch: Palestine protesters halt Derry Council meeting

Ald Ryan McCready said no council staff should feel intimidated at work.

“No councillor should be intimidated, threatened or feel unwelcome when they conduct their business. The fact that that's how people felt yesterday is unacceptable. So I'll be pursuing other matters through council officers offline to ensure that keeps the integrity of the PSNI investigation open,” the UUP alderman said.

He apologised on behalf of his party to the council officers who he said were put in an 'unscrupulous position'.

“Whether they are the door person or the chief executive officer, to have any emblem irrespective whether you agree or disagree, put behind them to be screenshot for the rest of their time and their history online is inexcusable and unacceptable.”

He said questions need to be asked about how the protest was dealt with.

“Yesterday should have been adjourned and we should've been dismissed until civil order was reinstated.”

He said it put members in a position of uncertainty as to 'who's behind what door' and 'who's coming from where'.

“That is not an environment to conduct business in. I wouldn't accept that in a private business or anywhere else and I don't expect that here for our members irrespective of your politics.”

Councillor Harkin began to speak on the issue but was interrupted.

“There's genocide taking place right now in Gaza. We've seen 15,000 people killed, 6,000 children. We have an Israeli State openly saying that they are starving people in Gaza,” the People Before Profit councillor said.

“We are seeing Ministers of that State saying that they are going to transfer...”

Alderman McCready interrupted councillor Harkin with a point of order saying it was the conduct not the conflict that was being discussed.

“This was discussed, concluded and ratified. The conduct of yesterday, which was brought up in any other business is separate to this. We're not rehashing what was discussed yesterday,” the UUP Aldeman said.

Councillor Gary Donelly asked Ald McCready 'who gives you the right to make that decision?'

Cllr Harkin was allowed to continue.

Councillor Harkin said he believes some members were attempting to deflect from the major issue.

“There is a genocidal war taking place right now. And people around the world are unable to do anything else except think about it because you can watch this on TV,” he said.

“Yet we have a government that is continuing to back this slaughter and we have political parties in this chamber continuing to back this slaughter.

“We had motions passed yesterday, this council made decisions about putting pressure on those governments and standing in solidarity with people who are facing genocide and what do I wake up to today? The complaints about the protest.

He said he believes it is 'an attempt to deflect' from 'parties that cannot come in here and defend their political positions'.

“The interpretation of 'civil disobedience'... What are people supposed to do? People should protest, people should organise incidents, people should block boats that are taking arms to Israel and stop them from doing this and that's what's happening around the world right now.

“I think anybody who is not on the side of stoping this genocide of the Palestinian people needs to reflect on their politics and what they're doing.

“When the Holocaust happened – and my partner's Jewish as I spoke about yesterday – there were political parties that sat on their hands and ignored what was happening and went along with the Nazi justifications for killing Jewish people and for slaughtering and members of marginalised communities.

“We are now in a moment of history where we are watching on our televisions, a genocidal war in Palestine, that the Israeli state has been preparing the ground for for decades.”

He said he did not condone any misogynistic language but believes there is an attempt to deflect.

“I don't want anyone to feel intimidated in this chamber. I didn't feel it was intimidating. It was impassioned. Is it an issue that people around the world feel very, very strongly about? Absolutely.”

Alderman proposes inviting Hamas leader's son to council

Ald Hussey highlighted concerns around 'procedural issues' and defended his decision not to stand with the vast majority of the chamber to observe the moment of silence for Palestinian children who have been killed.

“Specifically, regarding the minute's silence. Mayor, you asked for us to observe a minute's silence, which was duly adhered to by all in the chamber,” the UUP alderman said.

He said it has not been the protocol in the past to stand for a minute's silence and that others in the chamber also did not stand during this one.

“Subsequently, I was verbally abused and threatened. No action was taken. I'm concerned about that but I'm not intimidated. I'm concerned that that did happen.

“Despite what councillor Harkin says, there will have been those who felt intimidated. Perhaps he didn't. Surprise, surprise. He has talked about the subject of yesterday and those who share that space. I'll make a proposal. If councillor Harkin will accept that proposal.

He proposed that the council invite Mosab Hassan Yousef, the son of a founding Hamas leader, to address the council either in person or online.

The Mayor asked that he puts in a notice of motion.

Cllr Brian Tierney said he wanted to send support to any guildhall staff who 'may or may not have been intimidated'.

He said he thinks the subject of the protest was overshadowed.

“There has been one comment about BDS since yesterday, and all of the media attention and that's what the protest was about,” the SDLP councillor said.

“I'm not against people protesting at all. I think they have a right to do so but it's how people act when they do. I think those who joined the protest were ill advised in how they did it.

“I would have much preferred that they came to this chamber and listened to the debate that was taking place and then made an informed decision on people's position.”

The SDLP councillor added it was 'important to acknowledge' that Catherine Hutton from Derry IPSC distanced herself from the banner that said 'expel the Israeli Ambassador' with the s's styled on the Nazi SS insignia.

Some SDLP councillors felt uncomfortable about the protest according to cllr Tierney, who also condemned the sexist Facebook comment.

"there's absolutely no blood on our hands.”

Alderman Chelsea Cooke offered solidarity to any council members or staff who were affected by the protest.

“There's one thing that I want to get across and its in regards to deflection. There is not one life that I feel is more important than any other. Whether it be somebody from Palestine, Israel or anywhere else and that is the stance that we are taking,” the DUP alderman said.

“We do not stand with the killing of anybody whether it be man, woman or child. I'm speaking on behalf of myself and my party colleagues when I say that there's absolutely no blood on our hands.”

Councillor Gary Donnelly said misogyny and all bigoted comments have no place in society but he ‘not going to be lectured by unionism’

“I think we need to call it out, whether it's racist, sectarian. It's just wrong. There's no grey area,” the independent councillor said.

“But what I believe I'm seeing here is an attempt to become the victim and it's coming from a party that a quick Google search will show you the background of.

“As a former member of Sinn Féin who was at this council in the first council elections and since Sinn Féin took that decision to go into council the DUP spat at, beat, bullied in each of the six counties in council chambers and outside council chambers.

“I am not going to be lectured by unionism in here. The protests yesterday, I agree with. I commend the protesters.”

He said the protest came about through the public's frustration that the council has not actually implemented the BDS policy that it agreed on seven years ago.

Referencing earlier motions, Cllr Donnelly drew attention to what he perceived as hypocrisy.

“I have listened to councillors here today who refused to back a ceasefire then tell us they would have tears in their eyes if they thought children were going to school hungry.

“They have no tears in their eyes for live scenes in Gaza where children are being blown to bits. They want to back women's health issues? They have no issues with women and young girls being destroyed and won't support a ceasefire.”

He said the Israeli government's dehumanisation of Palestinians is the 'same type of hatred that has been used against Catholics in this State since its inception'.

“The banner in here yesterday that people were accusing of being anti-semitic. There were two Jews in here yesterday, probably the only two Jews here and they were behind that banner and they weren't hiding their faces.

“As a Republican I've used the phrase 'SSRUC' when the British police force were cracking people's heads in this State. It isn't anti-Semitic. That banner was drawing a comparison in a similar vein that the actions of the Israelis are similar to the actions of Nazi's.”

Councillor Christopher Jackson said council workers should be protected at work.

“We've passed many motions in relation to protecting workers. Employees of Council have the right to have their rights protected,” the Sinn Féin councillor said.

“It should be a place where people feel comfortable and there is no room or intimidation whatsoever.

“We fully respect the right to protest in relation to the genocide that is ongoing in Gaza. People are rightly angry and have a right to protest if they feel that we can do more to bring an end to the slaughter but it needs to be done in a respectful way.”

Cllr Jackson also condemned the sexist comment.

"Yesterday was the anger of the people of this district at this council"

Cllr Paul Gallagher said the protest was borne out of frustration with the council’s inability to implement its policy.

“In 2016 and 2019 we passed motions in this chamber around BDS and the reason we did that was to try and eradicate the killings of children, civilians and to try and eradicate the apartheid regime in Palestine. We do know BDS was successful in eradicating apartheid in South Africa.

“What we saw yesterday was the anger of the people of this district at this council for not implementing its corporate position on BDS in the midst of thousands of children, women and men being killed as we speak.

“Yes, it was quite vocal but it was peaceful and in my observations, I don't feel that council staff who were looking after the security of this building felt that they were under threat at any time. There was engagement with the protesters and it looked to me like they were comfortable.”

Cllr Gallagher said he believes there have been more serious safety concerns in the chamber than protesters.

“Previous members have been talking about the security of this chamber. I, at times, felt uncomfortable when I believed that people were carrying guns in this chamber. We have never had a debate about that in this chamber but it does seem to go unnoticed or unchallenged.

“So when we talk about security and people feeling upset, we need to talk about all the issues and if we're looking at security that should be included.”

He said the protesters left immediately after they finished their protest.

Alderman Keith Kerrigan said he had issues with the Facebook comment and comments from fellow members.

“The issue is twofold with regards to, as Alderman McMorris has raised, the disgraceful comments that have been made online in regards to a fellow Alderman,” the DUP alderman said.

“I had just left the chamber at that stage but I was signed in and was able to hear and view the footage in regard to comments made to alderman Hussey in particular– it's not right.”

“No one can see how someone else feels. I think the comments from councillor Donnelly are a disgrace and councillor Harkin's comments but I don't expect any different from them.”

“We are all democratically elected to this chamber and everyone has a right to feel safe and secure in their working environment.”

Alderman Darren Guy said he doesn't support BDS but debated it and listened to arguments about it.

He raised concerns about the two masked young men in the public gallery.

“Things get out of hand when people come in and feel they have to keep their faces covered. What do they plan to do that they have to keep their face covered?” the UUP alderman asked.

“You heard many people complaining about what went on in a court in Belfast and quite rightly so they were put out. They should have been put out the moment they refused to remove their face coverings.

He said his party has no problem with peaceful protest and that the two major unionist parties don’t support murder.

“I just want to point this out. I know the Ulster Unionist Party and the DUP do not support the murders of anyone, anywhere in the world, especially children. For anybody to even claim that is just shocking and it makes it even worse when elected members to this council are making claims like that on live radio.

“We've all seen what happened in England, the MP, Jo Cox, stabbed to death because of her political views.

“We all have different political views, but we have to respect each other that we're all different. We can debate that through these channels”

“I know people feel strongly about the whole Middle Eastern, Israel-Palestine war that's going on. It's been going on for years. I have to admit that I do not understand it fully.

“It's not on our doorstep so let's debate it properly. I may not agree with some things that are in our motions. I may agree with some that are in our motions. But when they're all lumped together, and you don't agree with one or two things then you tend not to vote for that motion.”

He said that does not mean he doesn't want to see peace, adding that he believes it would be better not to expel the Israeli ambassador and pursue peace through dialogue.