Oxford Socialist Independents Group Motion

This Council notes that:

• In response to the Hamas-led attacks on 7th October, the Israeli army has dropped 6,000 bombs on Gaza^[1] – one of the most densely populated places in the world and home to 2.2 million Palestinians^[2] (of whom almost half are children).^[3]
• The scale of this assault in Gaza has been compared to the Nakba (‘Catastrophe’) of 1948 in which more than 750,000 People were forcibly displaced, dispossessed and expelled from their homes.^[4]
• As of 10 November 2023, over 1 million Palestinians have been displaced, 11,078 killed (4,506 of whom were children) and 27,490 injured.^[5]
• Collective punishment^[6] is against international law under the Geneva Conventions.^[7]
• The Israeli government have cut off water, food, and electricity to Gaza which is a war crime under International Humanitarian Law.^[8]
• There has been a 16 year illegal siege of Gaza^[9], an occupation including in our twin city of Ramallah with the deadliest year for Palestinians even before October 7th, and a system of apartheid as documented by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and B’tselem.^[10]

This Council believes that:

• What is happening in Gaza is a humanitarian catastrophe with horrific escalations of violence.
• Loss of all civilian lives and atrocities committed against civilians in both the Hamas attacks and the ensuing bombardment of the Gaza strip by Israel are horrific and must be condemned.
• Polls show those surveyed overwhelmingly support a humanitarian ceasefire^[11], which has been called for by the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, UNICEF, Save the Children, the head of the WHO, as well as Oxford's own Oxfam.
• Hundreds of Oxford residents have joined protests, written to MPs, or contacted their councillors backing these calls.^[12]

This Council agrees to:

• Request that the Council Leader write to

a)    the foreign secretary and ask them to:

o   call for an immediate ceasefire,

o   open humanitarian corridors into Gaza (to allow aid, not displace people),

o   provide an opportunity to seek the immediate release of all hostages and all Palestinians held in arbitrary military detention,

o   call for an arms embargo to be enacted by all involved in the conflict.

b)    local MPs to request that they too write to the foreign secretary as above.

• Confirm its position that all forms of racism and all hate crimes, including against Jewish or Muslim people, has no place in Oxford.

Councillor Paula Dunne, seconded by Councillor Jabu Nala-Hartley, proposed the amended motion as set out in the briefing note.

On being put to the vote, the amended motion was then agreed.

Council resolved to adopt the following motion:

Council notes:

·       As of 10 November 2023, 11,078 Palestinians, 4,506 of whom were children, have been killed, 27,490 injured and more than 1 million displaced, by Israeli forces. 

·       Following Hamas’ attacks on 7 October - killing 1,200 people and abducting more than 200 people including children, in contravention of the Geneva Conventions, Israeli forces dropped 6,000 bombs on Gaza , one of the world’s most densely populated places, home to 2.2 million trapped Palestinians  (of whom almost half are children) .

·       UNRWA has described the situation as reminiscent of the Nakba (‘Catastrophe’) of 1948 in which more than 750,000 people were forcibly displaced, dispossessed and expelled from their homes.

·       Collective punishment is against international law under the Geneva Conventions.

·       The Israeli government has cut off water, food, and electricity to Gaza which is a war crime under International Humanitarian Law.

·       There has been a 16-year illegal blockade of Gaza,  an occupation in the West Bank, including in our twin city of Ramallah, and major NGOs say there is a system of apartheid.

·       Hamas’ rocket and mortar attacks targeting civilians have been condemned by the UN and human rights organisations.

Council believes: 

·       There must be an immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

·       Neither the actions of the Israeli government or Hamas will contribute to a just peaceful resolution.

·       The killing of all civilians and atrocities committed against civilians in both the ongoing bombardment of Gaza by Israeli forces and the Hamas attacks are horrific and must be condemned.

·       Polls show over 70% of the British public surveyed support a ceasefire,  which has been called for by the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, UNICEF, Save the Children, the head of the WHO, Oxfam, Layla Moran MP, and our Lord Mayor. Oxford’s four main mosques have also called for the leader of this council and the Oxford East MP to call for an immediate ceasefire.

·       There are major concerns about Israeli army and settler violence and intimidation of Palestinians in the West Bank and Ramallah.

·       Antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism and hate crimes of all forms, including against Jewish and Muslim people, communities and places of worship, have no place in Oxford.

Council agrees to: 

?        Request the Council Leader

·       Write to Rishi Sunak, Keir Starmer and Anneliese Dodds demanding they call for an immediate, permanent ceasefire    

·       Write to the foreign secretary asking them to:

o   work to ensure full access for humanitarian aid is granted in Gaza

o   seek an immediate unconditional release of all hostages

o   call for Palestinians in arbitrary military detention to be given access to justice through an independent, non-military system

o   raise concerns about Israeli army and settler violence in the West Bank

·       Write to express solidarity with Layla Moran and her family in Gaza

·       Invite the mayor of Ramallah to address full council to discuss the crisis in the West Bank

·       Convene a meeting of religious leaders, including Jewish and Muslim leaders, and community safety stakeholders to discuss how to better tackle Antisemitism and Islamophobia