Dear, Mayor Kathy Majdlik and Melton City Councillors, 

As the residents of Melton City, we call upon you to stand firmly in solidarity with the people of Palestine. 

As of today, at least 19,667 innocent Palestinian civilians (over 26,000 since posting this petition) have been killed in Israeli attacks since the 7th of October with thousands more buried under the rubble. Thousands of children have been killed mercilessly and thousands more have been orphaned. The Israeli forces have destroyed and continue to destroy schools, universities, other educational institutions, refugee camps, disabled persons centres, student accommodation facilities, small businesses and homes.

For over two months, our communities have been watching the horror unfold on social media. These horrifying scenes have deeply affected our community. Many of our Palestinian community members and residents have lost family and friends in Gaza as a result of Israeli violence, and many more still have family and friends who are suffering in Gaza as we speak with limited food, water, medical supplies and electricity. As the City of Melton, we want to see an end to this gross violation of human rights.

There is an urgent need for us, as a community, to voice our support for the Palestinian people and their quest for justice and peace. We call on you, as our representatives, to raise a motion expressing Melton City Council’s solidarity with the people of Palestine.

Any motion raised and passed must: 

• Call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire;
• Condemn the violence of Israeli forces against the people of Palestine;
• Acknowledge that the violence of Israeli forces against the people of Palestine has been ongoing for 75+ years;
• Acknowledge that the violence of Israeli forces against the people of Palestine can be resolved only with the withdrawal of Israel from occupied Palestinian Territories;
• Show a commitment to fly the Palestinian flag at the Melton Civic Centre as a display of solidarity with our Palestinian residents; 
• Call upon the Australian Federal Government to condemn Israeli war crimes, call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, and end all military, economic, political and diplomatic ties to Israel until it complies with its obligations under international law.

We have seen the councils of Merri-bek, Maribyrnong, Dandenong, Yarra, Hume, Darebin and Wyndham pass Pro-Palestine motions in the past days and weeks. We have faith that our Council will show that same level of support to our community and uphold their commitment to amplify our voices. 

Sincerely, 

Residents of Melton City Council