City councillors back Lib Dem motion calling for ceasefire in Gaza

At Full Council this week, the Liberal Democrats on Milton Keynes City Council called for an “urgent, permanent, biliteral” ceasefire in Gaza.

The motion which passed unanimously also called for the release and return of hostages, as well as setting out some actions the City Council can take itself.

Lib Dem Leader, Councillor Robin Bradburn, who proposed the motion that earned cross-party support, said:

“Milton Keynes City Council was one of the first councils in the country to debate this at Full Council back in October. We now note that after 9 months, the situation in Gaza has escalated to a scale that a further direct motion is necessary.

“This is no longer a blame game just a vital need for a humanitarian solution to a desperate situation and the motion offers support to a three-phase solution which I commend to Full Council.”

The motion called on the City Council to push the new Labour government to support permanent peace and a 2-state solution to enable the following outcomes to be spread over three phases.

Phase 1: an immediate, full, and complete ceasefire with the release and return of hostages and civilians, withdrawal of Israeli forces from the populated areas in Gaza, and the safe and effective distribution of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza.

Phase 2: the permanent end to hostilities in exchange for the release of all other hostages and full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the area.

Phase 3: the start of a major multi year reconstruction plan for Gaza and the return of the remains of any deceased hostages still in Gaza to their families.

Now the motion has the full support of the Council, the group leaders on Milton Keynes City Council will write to the newly appointed Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs, the Rt Hon David Lammy MP.

The letter will press all parties to agree to guarantee that international humanitarian law is upheld and that civilians are protected, as well as ensuring the Red Cross can provide urgent medical attention to the elderly, sick, and wounded, and to ensure that all civilians have access to medical supplies, food, electricity, other fuel, and water.

The City Council also vowed to explore how they can support local residents affected by the conflict of all faiths and none and what events can be facilitated to ensure people have a place where they can come together and express solidarity and sadness.

Councillor Sophie Bell, who represents Shenley Brook End, and who seconded the motion, added:

“We’ve all been appalled by the shocking and tragic events in the Middle East, and whilst the three-phase solution proposed is perhaps far beyond the City Council’s remit and responsibilities, we want to ensure residents are supported. We want to resist the attempts to divide our communities and commit to working for peace and unity for Milton Keynes.”