The Belfast Health Trust has been struggling to find a contractor to remove “antisemitic” graffiti from the wall of its hospital.

The phrase “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” has been on a wall of the Royal Victoria Hospital in the Falls Road in west Belfast for an estimated six months.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson said it remains more than five months after an official complaint was lodged with the Belfast Health Trust requesting that it be removed.

He contended the phrase “is viewed by many people as a violent call to erase Israel and its population from existence”, and said he is concerned it will deter members of the local Jewish community from accessing services.

He also said the complaint has been escalated to the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman.

DUP MLA Diane Dodds raised the matter at a meeting of the Stormont Health Committee on Thursday querying why the graffiti has not been removed and how it had been allowed to remain for so long.

“It is a bit appalling that we’ve waited six months to get rid of antisemitic graffiti,” she said.

Maureen Edwards, interim head of the trust, said they have had “extreme difficulty” finding a contractor to remove it, but have plans to take it down.

She responded saying: “I completely agree with you.

“As one of the first trusts of sanctuary, we take it very seriously. We had extreme difficulty getting anyone to take the graffiti down.

“We had gone out to lots of contractors who would not do it. It is being dealt with now.

“We’d gone to local community groups, who had supported us, but we had real difficulty in getting anyone to do it.”

After the committee meeting, Ms Dodds called for public support for the removal of the graffiti.

“It is obviously disappointing that graffiti that has been in place for almost six months still currently remains in place. However, I recognise the difficulties the trust encountered when attempting to secure a contractor to remove it. The fact they faced difficulties is a depressing admission,” she said.

“There is an obvious question about why contractors would be so fearful about the removal of this graffiti which is on a main thoroughfare in the city.

“I would hope that local representatives there would make clear that they would welcome the removal of this slogan and play a part in reducing any concerns that contractors might have.”