Green Councillors put forward motion calling for ceasefire in Gaza
By Poppy Cottle-Bailey, Masters Comparative Literatures and Cultures
The Green Councillors of Bristol’s local government have put forward a motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and for the UK to end its arms trade with Israel.
The motion, which will be debated at a meeting with the Full Council next Tuesday 14th January, asks Bristol City Council to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and for the Council leaders to write to the Labour Government to ask Prime Minister Keir Starmer to end the UK’s arms trade with Israel.
The motion also calls for the Avon Pension Fund, of which Bristol City Council is a member, to divest itself from any companies that are complicit in Israel’s attacks on the Palestinian people, including arms companies.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since 7th October 2023. Of this number, 17,000 were children. Around 80% of the Gaza Strip is under active evacuation orders, and more than half the homes there have been damaged or destroyed.
In January 2024, the International Court of Justice handed down an interim ruling which affirmed that there is plausible evidence that Israel’s attacks on Gaza are in breach of the Genocide Convention.
The interim ruling is noted in the motion, which was put forward by Councillor Shona Jemphrey, the Green Councillor for Lawrence Hill. She declared that
‘"The scale and suffering of the people in Gaza is incomprehensible, and alone in the face of such atrocities it’s easy to feel helpless. This motion is to show that collectively as a Council and as a city, there are tangible actions we can take to address the ongoing genocide in Gaza."
She asserted that the motion "is inspired by the activists that regularly come to make their collective voice heard."
"The Green Party is listening. There must be an immediate and permanent ceasefire, and the Prime Minister must stop the UK’s arms trade with Israel to prevent more casualties."
Councillor Fi Hance, Bristol City Council’s sole representative on the Avon Pension Fund Committee, stated that, "like so many people in Bristol and across the world, I have been horrified by the events in Gaza and am in full support of this motion."
"I am already doing all I can to investigate how the Avon Pension Fund can divest from companies that are linked to this ongoing genocide. By passing this motion, Bristol City Council has the opportunity to add pressure to make it clear that divestment is an urgent priority."
Councillor Fi Hance went on to avow that "whether this motion passes or fails, I will continue to look over all options and work with campaigners, other local authorities and the APF to do whatever we can to make sure our investments are aligned with our values and in solidarity with the people of Gaza."
The motion will be discussed by the Full Council on Tuesday, 14th January 2025.