Non-stop for almost two weeks at the time of writing, Israel has been bombing homes, whole neighbourhoods, hospitals, schools, mosques and churches in Gaza, while cutting off electricity, fuel, water, medicine and food supplies to the 2.3 million Palestinians there. Three days ago, the US veto effectively blocked life-saving aid from reaching Gaza. At the time of writing at least 3,785 Palestinians have been murdered, including 1,524 children. Tens of thousands more face a slower death from starvation and severe dehydration. Across historic Palestine, there is an escalation of Israel's killings, including of children, fanatic Israeli settler violence, arrests and repression. Recognizing the risk of genocide, UN experts have called for its prevention.

In the face of such devastation it is the moral responsibility for public bodies to take whatever action they can, no matter how small.

The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement (BDS) has called for city councils to declare themselves Apartheid-free zones, ending all relations with apartheid Israel and companies/institutions that are complicit in its system of oppression, as was done with great success against apartheid South Africa.

We note that Plymouth City Council banks with Barclays.

Barclays Bank holds over £1 billion in shares, and provides over £3 billion in loans and underwriting to 9 companies whose weapons, components, and military technology have been used in Israel's armed violence against Palestinians. By providing investment and financial services to these arms companies, Barclays facilitates the provision of weapons and technology for Israel's militarised repression of Palestinians.

We therefore call on Plymouth City Council to:

- Declare the Council to be an Apartheid-Free Zone
- End any contracts known to be linked to Israel
- Move all Council accounts away from Barclays Bank