Israel’s ongoing assault on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians - almost half of them children. Over 70% of buildings and infrastructure has been destroyed. Palestinians in Gaza are facing imminent famine due to Israel's blockade and its targeting of life-sustaining infrastructure. In May 2024, the head of the United Nations World Food Program said northern Gaza has entered "full-blown famine."

We all have a responsibility to stand with Palestinians in the face of such catastrophic violence and do everything in our power to bring such suffering to an end.   

In January, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the highest court in the world, handed down an interim ruling affirming there is plausible evidence Israel is committing genocidal acts against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. As a State Party to the Genocide Convention, the UK has a binding obligation to employ all means reasonably available to prevent and deter further genocidal acts.

Stemming from this obligation, Councils must refrain from procuring from, or investing funds they administer in, companies enabling plausibly genocidal acts. This includes arms companies supplying weapons and military technology used by Israel in its relentless attacks on Palestinians, and financial institutions, which finance these arms companies.

The recent defeat of draconian attempts to restrict the right of public bodies to take ethical investment and spending decisions means that Councils are free to take human rights and other ethical considerations on board when making financial decisions, and I hope so.

Given this, I am asking everyone who is in the power to: 

Propose and support motions for the Council to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire to stop the catastrophic loss of life, and for the UK to end its arms trade with Israel. 

Fulfil the UK's third state responsibilities under the Genocide Convention by taking measures to ensure the Council ends all support for further genocidal acts. This includes the immediate divestment of any funds administered by the Council, including Local Government Pension Scheme funds, from companies complicit in Israel’s attacks on Palestinians, such as arms companies supplying Israel with weapons and military technology.  As well as ensuring that the Council does not enter procurement contracts with these companies.

Work in your political party to ensure it supports an immediate and permanent ceasefire, and concrete measures to end Israel’s assault such as an immediate arms embargo.  

There is a proud tradition of councillors standing for peace and justice: from Councils who cut ties with companies involved in apartheid in South Africa and declared themselves to be ‘apartheid-free zones’, to those who are cutting links with fossil fuel companies now. I am writing to request, councils and politicians who has the power to take concrete steps to stand for human rights and justice in Palestine.