Issue - meetings

(time limit 30 minutes)

Motion 1: Recognising Palestine and the famine in Gaza

To be Moved by Councillor Mushtaq
to be  Seconded by Councillor Taylor

Next month will mark two years since the horrific attack of October 7^th, leaked data from the IDFs own figures indicate a civilian death rate of 83% in the Gaza war that followed those attacks, causing experts from the Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP) to state “That proportion of civilians among those killed would be unusually high, particularly as it has been going on for such a long time.”

When compared to conflicts tracked by UCDP since 1989, only the Rwandan Genocide, the Russian siege of Mariupol and Srebrenica have a higher proportion of civilian casualties.

The number of civilians impacted by this war in Israel and Palestine is unpalatable to thousands of people across Oldham. The war is having a profound effect on millions of people worldwide as we witness unimaginable suffering.

This Council notes:

• The UK Government’s announcement on 29 July 2025 that it will formally recognise the State of Palestine in September.
• The joint statement issued on 21 July 2025 by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and 28 international partners, which condemned the Israeli government’s aid delivery model as “dangerous, fuelling instability and depriving Gazans of human dignity,” and called for an “immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire”.
• The speech delivered by UK Ambassador to the UN, Dame Barbara Woodward, on 23 July 2025, in which she described the Israeli aid system as “inhumane, ineffective, dangerous and fuelling instability,” and called for Israel to end attacks on civilians, cooperate with the UN, and uphold international humanitarian law.
• The official declaration by the United Nations backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) and humanitarian agencies that famine conditions now exist in Gaza, with over 640,000 people facing catastrophic food insecurity and millions more in emergency or crisis conditions.
• The IPC concluded that the decision was based on evidence of extreme food deprivation, acute malnutrition and starvation-related deaths.
• That the famine is a man-made disaster, resulting from prolonged conflict, displacement, and severe restrictions on humanitarian access.

This Council believes:

• That recognition of the State of Palestine is a vital step toward a just and lasting peace in the region.
• That the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza demands urgent and coordinated international action to prevent further loss of life.
• That Israel should immediately allow full and unrestricted humanitarian aid agencies into Gaza to immediately address the famine.
• That the UK Government’s recent statements reflect a growing international consensus on the need for accountability, humanitarian access, and a political resolution, but the time for action has never been more apparent given that a famine has been declared.
• That local authorities have a role to play in advocating for human rights, peace, and justice globally as our residents care deeply about these issues.
• That residents across Oldham have displayed their commitment to supporting aid efforts and minimising suffering in Gaza by raising awareness and fundraising for  ...  view the full agenda text for item 10.