Half of the council chamber at Belfast City Hall was left empty after a walk-out by Sinn Féin and several other parties. The protest was sparked by dissatisfaction with how the Lord Mayor handled Sinn Féin's attempt to discuss the education minister's recent trip to Israel. Sinn Féin, the largest party in the council, was joined by representatives from other groups including the Social Democratic and Labour Party, the Green Party, and People Before Profit. Among those who left was the deputy Lord Mayor, highlighting the scale of the walk-out.