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The Parades Commission today gave the green light for a march in Belfast to demand an end to violence in Gaza.

The march organised by the Irish Congress of Trades Unions (Ictu) will pass through the city centre on Saturday, despite objections from unionist politicians.

A parade planned by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign Trade Union Friends of Ireland has been withdrawn.

The parade through the city centre, leading to City Hall, will take place on Saturday at 12.30pm.

In a statement the Commission said: “The Commission today met with the parade organisers and we heard that only one parade, that organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, will now be held.

“We are assured by ICTU that the parade they are planning will be peaceful, inclusive and is aimed at the promotion of a lasting and peaceful outcome to the ongoing issues in Gaza.

“The organisers have taken steps to the best of their abilities to ensure that only non offensive flags or banners will be on display.”

The Commission said no restrictions will be placed on the parade.

Announcing the planned march, John O’Farrell from ICTU called for an immediate end to the violence.

“We demand that this ceasefire happens now and that humanitarian relief can be allocated to the grieving and suffering people of Gaza,” he said yesterday.

“We call on the people of Northern Ireland to make their voices heard by joining our peace rally.”

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) representatives had met with the Parades Commission to voice concern over the event.

North Belfast Assembly member Nelson McCausland questioned whether the organisers had given the commissioner sufficient notice of the parade and if it would be non-contentious.

Today the Commission denied the march had been handled differently from any other.

It said: “The legislation under which the Commission operates allows for parades to be considered even when they have been notified with less than 28 days notice, provided there is a valid reason for the late notification.

“Late notification of parades — from across the community in Northern Ireland - are a weekly occurrence and each is considered on its merits.

“There is nothing exceptional or unusual in the way the weekend parade has been notified and considered.”