Belfast Hospital Faces Challenges Removing Controversial Graffiti

Pro-Palestinian slogan labeled as antisemitic remains on Royal Victoria Hospital wall for six months due to contractor concerns.

The graffiti, featuring the phrase 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,' has been on the hospital wall for roughly six months.
The Belfast Health Trust has faced significant difficulty finding contractors willing to remove the graffiti, citing fear of backlash.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has escalated the issue, calling the phrase antisemitic and a deterrent for Jewish community members accessing healthcare.
Maureen Edwards, interim head of the Belfast Health Trust, stated that local community groups had supported the removal effort, but contractors repeatedly declined the job.
The graffiti's persistence has prompted an official complaint to the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman, with calls for public and political support to resolve the issue.