A motion calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict was passed at Thanet council last week – but only amid lengthy debate over amendments, disruption from the public gallery which, the chairman commented, had resulted in police being called and criticism of the ‘grammar’ used by a councillor who had already shared with the chamber that they were dyslexic.
Thanet Green Party, through Cllr Becky Wing, had brought forward a motion calling for the ceasefire, opening of humanitarian corridors into Gaza for aid and other vital medical resources. the immediate release of all hostages and all Palestinians held in arbitrary military detention, an arms embargo and for Israel to resume negotiations with the Palestinians to seek a peaceful solution to the conflict currently raging in the Middle East.
Amendments
A Labour amendment brought changes to the wording including humanitarian ceasefire, ‘to call for’ the opening of corridors and hostage releases and to call for a two state solution.
A Conservative amendment, which was not agreed for debate, requested the inclusion of Israel’s right to defend itself, condemning the use of civilian areas by Hamas, a new Palestinian government with Hamas removed from control of Gaza, bilateral cease fire and Israel and Palestine to resume negotiations.
‘Outside council remit’
During the discussion some councillors, including Cllr Barry Manners and Cllr John Davis (Con) and Cllr Kristian Bright (Labour), raised questions such as why Thanet councillors were debating an international conflict when their remit is local issues and why the focus on one conflict when there were many other atrocities being carried out in other countries, including West Africa and fighting in Ukraine. Cllr K Bright also said there was a need for accuracy in any motion that was to be debated in the council chamber.
Clearing of public gallery
People were removed from the public gallery after an outburst while Cllr Reece Pugh was speaking.
He said the motion had been brought because “people pushed or intimidated you into it” and then referenced the protestors who had been outside the council building “flying Palestinian but not Israeli flags.”
He added: “Israel has a right to defend itself” adding that it was disgusting for a party to align itself with a group “chanting from the river to the sea.”
He then listed Hamas atrocities, one of which provoked anger from the public gallery as the claim has since been shown as uncorroborated.
Council chairman Cllr John Edwards issued a warning to people in the public gallery but eventually the meeting was temporarily adjourned and he said police had been called.
‘Stop the killing’
During the meeting Cllr Rob Yates read out a statement from a resident who was in Israel when a Hamas attack was launched in October and also spoke of people starving in Gaza and the collapse of the health system.
Cllr Emma Dawson said: “I see this as a call by humanity for humanity.”
Visibly distressed by the comments about her writing of the motion, Cllr Wing then summed up to say that apart from tussles over the ‘minute details’ it was evident “we all want to stop the killing.”
Despite the disturbances and some fractious disagreements, there was majority consensus – with some abstentions- for a vote to call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the motion containing Labour amendments even though it was acknowledged, as Cllr Everitt said, that: “No-one in Westminster, never mind the Middle East, is waiting to hear the view of Thanet District Council.”
However, Cllr Everitt added: “We should recognise that as little as we can do as a small district council in south-east Kent, we can take the time to recognise the immense suffering that is happening far away.”
Ceasefire call
Following the meeting Thanet Green Group leader Cllr Mike Garner said: “We’re pleased and proud to have brought the motion to council at Thursday’s meeting calling on the Leader to write to the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition to call for an immediate ceasefire in Israel / Gaza.
“It’s clear that if we hadn’t done this, councillors from across the chamber who wanted to hold this debate would have been denied the opportunity. We weren’t particularly surprised that the Labour group proposed an amendment in step with their national party’s line on the issue, some of which we disagreed with.
“Sadly this meant watering down our original motion – but the important thing is that the council voted to make the ceasefire call.
“We were however disappointed with the comments and attitudes of some councillors, who seemed keener on passing judgement on the way the motion had been written rather than debating its substance.
“I was also disappointed with the comments from some which seemed to suggest that we had been “intimidated by the mob” into bringing the motion. Nothing could be further from the truth. We brought the motion to council because members from across our community, many of whom have been directly impacted by the conflict, wanted us to – and because we’re Green Party Councillors, and the Green Party nationally has consistently called for a ceasefire since the start of the conflict.
“Having said all that, we were pleased that others who wanted to speak on the substance were able to, and would like to say a big thank you to everyone from across the chamber who supported our amended motion. I’d also like to thank Cllr Helen Whitehead for deferring, again, the debate on her ‘motion regarding the abuse of councillors and officers’, which we look forward to contributing to at the next meeting.”
Council leader Cllr Everitt added: ““We were pleased that Green councillors voted for the Labour amendment. The motion addressed a major international issue which understandably provokes very strong feelings among some Thanet residents and councillors.
“The debate reflected that, although I fully understand why many people will feel the council should focus exclusively on matters it can affect.”
From Wikipedia – an outline of the latest conflict escalation
An armed conflict between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups has been taking place chiefly in and around the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023.
On that day, Palestinian militant groups launched a surprise attack on southern Israel from the Gaza Strip, initiating the most significant military escalation in the region since the Yom Kippur War 50 years earlier.
After clearing Hamas militants from its territory, the Israeli military embarked on an extensive aerial bombardment of the Gaza Strip followed by a large-scale ground invasion beginning on 27 October. Clashes have also occurred in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and with Hezbollah along the Israel–Lebanon border. The hostilities constitute the fifth war of the Gaza–Israel conflict since 2008, part of the broader Israeli–Palestinian conflict.
