The planned flying of the Palestinian flag outside Belfast City Hall this weekend is unlikely to go ahead.

The council agreed earlier this month to fly the flag on Saturday, but unionists have opposed the move.

It is understood that legal advice given to the council this week highlighted an issue with the decision-making process, saying not enough consideration had taken place.

In theory, another council meeting could be called before Saturday by the Lord Mayor, Tracy Kelly of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), but there is no sign of that happening.

The leader of the DUP at City Hall, Sarah Bunting, said: “Belfast City Hall represents everyone in our city.

“Flying the Palestinian flag would draw us into a deeply contested international conflict and risk creating further division here at home.”

It seems the flag will not fly on Saturday but Belfast City Council says nothing has been confirmed.

A spokesperson told BBC News NI: “As this process is ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”

The flying of the flag was approved at a meeting of the council at the start of November.

It was proposed by Sinn Féin councillor Ryan Murphy to mark the United Nations ‘international day of solidarity with the people of Palestine’.

He said: “In light of the continued genocide against the people of Gaza, it is right that we show solidarity and support to them.”

The flag-flying was agreed, in spite of unionist opposition, by 41 votes to 15.

Unionists subsequently tried to block the move by using the ‘call-in’ mechanism to challenge the legitimacy of the decision which was made.

Legal advice was sought by the council and it is understood that on some but not all grounds, it found fault with the decision.

It is believed this related to the amount of consideration given to the issue before the vote was taken.

However, the advice did not suggest the decision had breached community impact obligations.

The next planned meeting of the 60-member council is on Monday (December 1) and the issue is likely to be raised.

At the last full council meeting, Sinn Féin and a number of other parties walked out of the chamber in a dispute with the Lord Mayor, but later returned to their seats.

With 22 representatives on the council, Sinn Féin is the largest party at City Hall.

On Saturday afternoon, a parade by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign is due to take place between Donegall Street in Belfast and the City Hall.

According to the Parades Commission website, 2,000 people are expected to attend.

Earlier in the day, a parade by 1642 Boyne Bridge Defenders Historical Group is due to take place between Sandy Row and the City Hall.