Agenda item
URGENT MOTIONS
Minutes:
[Note: The Urgent Motions were debated in Part One of the meeting (public session)].
The Council agreed to suspend Procedure Rule 13.1 to enable the following urgent motions to be debated without notice:-
15.1 Motion on violence in Gaza
Councillor Shiria Khatun moved, and Councillor Rachael Saunders seconded the motion as tabled.
During debate an amendment was moved that was accepted by Councillors Khatun and Saunders, who altered their motion accordingly. The revised motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
RESOLVED
This Council notes:
- The latest escalation of violence in Gaza, which is part of an on going conflict.
- The humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the appalling standards of living faced by the people of Gaza, prior to this latest escalation of violence.
- The rapidly rising death count of hundreds killed in recent weeks and thousands who have been displaced.
- The calls by local MPs, Rushanara Ali and Jim Fitzpatrick, on the British Government to show leadership in working to end this conflict.
- Condemnation by Ed Miliband and other leading politicians of the Israeli incursion into Gaza.
- The gesture of solidarity with the people of Gaza by Tower Hamlets Council in raising the Palestine flag at Tower Hamlets Town Hall.
- The unity of Councillors and the Mayor in condemnation of the conflict.
This Council believes:
- The UK now must urgently take a lead role in bringing together the international community to ensure humanitarian law is upheld.
- The Prime Minister needs to show international leadership, working with the EU and the USA and help bring an end to the conflict.
- The horrendous images of innocent civilian casualties from Gaza over the past weeks show the profound urgency of the situation.
This Council resolves:
- To condemn the violence in which innocent civilians are being killed and displaced.
- To call on our MPs to continue to place pressure on our Government to take action to end the humanitarian crisis, secure a ceasefire and set upon the path to peace.
15.2 Motion on the situation in Gaza
Councillor Oliur Rahman moved, and Councillor Maium Miah seconded the motion as tabled.
The motion was put to vote and was agreed.
RESOLVED
This meeting notes:
- Since Israel commenced military operations in Gaza on July 8 some 1,200 Palestinians and 55 Israelis have been killed in the conflict.
- Most of the Palestinian deaths have been civilians, a large number women and children.
- In the last 24 hours over 100 Palestinians have been killed. These include 15 people who died as a result of an Israeli attack on a UN-run school, housing refugees. The UN stated they informed the Israeli’s in advance there were civilians in the building.
- A delegation of Tower Hamlets Councillors recently visited the Occupied Territories as part of the Tower Hamlets Jenin Friendship Association. Tower Hamlets Council has also agreed to a request from Unison to facilitate a collection among staff for the charity Medical Aid to Palestine.
This meeting agrees:
- To support the Prime Minister’s call for an immediate ceasefire.
- The killing of innocent civilians, Palestinian and Israeli, deepens hatred on both sides and makes conflict resolution more difficult to attain.
- The experience of conflict resolution in Northern Ireland and South Africa demonstrates that any lasting solution must entail negotiations with all partners to the conflict.
- That the Prime Minister should use his influence, and the UK’s experience of engagement in the peace process in Northern Ireland, to aid a peaceful and just resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
- To write to the Prime Minister expressing the above concerns.
- To encourage residents to support humanitarian aid relief for all victims of the conflict.