A motion will be heard at a Gedling Borough Council meeting later this month calling for an immediate ceasefire amid the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.
The motion has been put forward by independent councillors Russell Whiting and Des Gibbons with the aim of adding the voice of Gedling Borough Council to those calling for an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages.
It also recognises the impact that the conflict is having on residents in the borough and thanks community leaders for the work they have done in the light of the rise in Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.
The council will also be asked to look at how the events in Gaza can be commemorated in the borough.
The motion will be voted on at the next Full Council meeting on Wednesday, January 24.
The Labour Party’s official stance on the issue, as laid out by leader Keir Starmer, is calling for humanitarian pauses to allow aid into Gaza and the release of hostages, as opposed to a ceasefire, a stance shared by the Conservative government.
Councillor Russell Whiting, who represents Colwick Ward, said “People around the world have watched in horror as the situation in Gaza gets worse every day.
“The scenes we are witnessing in real-time on our TVs are horrific. Children having amputations without anesthetic and women giving birth with no healthcare provision are unimaginable and should not be tolerated by the international community.
“The world has seen this level of suffering, recently in Rwanda and Srebronica, a genocide which Gedling Borough Council marks annually. I hope that our fellow councillors will support this motion next week.”
Councillor Des Gibbons, who represents Bestwood St Albans Ward, added: “We have been contacted by people throughout Gedling borough who are struggling to come to terms with the level of pain and suffering being experienced in Gaza.
“Councils across the country have added their voices to the United Nations, major aid organisations and religious leaders in calling for a ceasefire. We must not stand by and allow another genocide to take place.”
Cllrs Gibbons and Whiting both resigned from the Labour Party back in November over their stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict.
If Hamas had spent the billions of pounds given to them from varying countries and the UN they might not be in this position. Stealing billions from their own people to build tunnels and buy weapons, missiles and guns instead of new hospitals and schools and infrastructure. Now that is despicable but has there been one act of condemnation for this from the UN? No. And let’s face it…GBC have enough issues in this borough to sort out than start poking their nose into something that’s got b****r all to do with them. That old adage….tidy your own backyard before looking at someone else’s rings true. Concentrate on sorting out Gedling Borough….thats your priority…it’s what we pay you for, not poking it into other people’s business.