The move was made following a decision by West Dunbartonshire Council.

A council spokeswoman told the Reporter: “The flag is not being raised in support of Hamas or the Israeli Army, but to raise awareness of the suffering and deaths of over two thousand people in Gaza.

“We hope that by flying the flag we can raise awareness of the suffering of the people of Gaza and hope there will be a ceasefire which can bring peace and stability to the people of Gaza.” The green, white, black and red flag was unfurled in the centre of Dumbarton earlier this week.

The Gaza Strip, sandwiched between Israel and Egypt, has been a recurring flashpoint in conflict between Israel and Palestine for several years, with the latest tensions arising after the abduction and killing of three Israeli teenagers in June.

Israel blamed Palestine militant group, Hamas, for the killings, and carried out a crackdown on the group in the West Bank. However, Hamas denied being behind the killings.

Tensions rose further after the suspected revenge killing of a Palestinian teenager in Jerusalem on July 2 in which six Jewish suspects were arrested.

Israel embarked on Operation Protective Edge on July 8, since when at least 1,360 Palestinians are reported to have been killed, mostly civilians .

Many of the reported images from the war zone have shown children killed in the atrocities.

Some 58 Israelis have been killed - 56 soldiers and two civilians. A Thai worker in Israel has also died.