Significant motions and amendments on a ceasefire in Gaza tabled in the UK in February 2024, including the motion passed at the Scottish Labour Party Conference on 17 February and the motions and amendments tabled for debate in the House of Commons on “Opposition Day”, 21 February.For discussion of the background to these motions, see The Genocide Election.
Motion passed at Scottish Labour Conference, 17 February 2024
Composite submitted by Cunninghame South CLP, Dundee City East CLP and Glasgow Anniesland CLP:
Conference condemns the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas in Israel on 7th October 2023 that killed 1200 innocent people.
Conference notes the devastation caused by ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the horrifying scenes in recent weeks and months in Israel and Palestine, where over 20,000 innocent Palestinians have been killed and over 100 Israelis are still being held hostage.
There is no justification for the targeting of civilians, the taking of hostages and the loss of innocent life.
Conference supports Israel’s right to protect its citizens, in line with International Law, affirms that Hamas remaining in Gaza is not tenable and agrees there is no justification for the collective punishment of 2.2 million citizens in Gaza.
Conference also acknowledges the importance of preventing an escalation of the conflict in the region.
Conference believes:
- The values of equality, democracy, human rights and the international rule of law are of fundamental importance.
- All combatants must act in accordance with the rules of war and international humanitarian law. Conference supports Anas Sarwar in his call for an immediate Humanitarian Ceasefire in Gaza.
Recognising that for any ceasefire to be successful and sustained it requires both sides to comply, Conference calls for:
- An end to rocket fire into and out of Gaza
- The unconditional release of hostages held by Hamas
- Essential supplies of water, food, medicine and electricity to be restored to Gaza, and the passage of aid into Gaza facilitated.
- A pathway to a peace process
Conference reaffirms its commitment to a two-state solution and recognises that long- term security for Israel and long-term justice for Palestine will only be achieved through a political, rather than military settlement.
Conference resolves to continue to campaign for these aims, to ask the UK Government to support an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and to use every form of diplomacy with international partners to make this a reality.
Conference condemns the rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia in the UK.
Conference thanks community leaders for the role they are playing in reducing tensions and calls on public figures to act responsibly and work to bring communities together at this time.
Source: https://labourlist.org/2024/02/scottish-labour-conference-ceasefire-protest/
Motions and amendments on a ceasefire in Gaza tabled for debate in the House of Commons on 21 February 2024
Source: https://commonsbusiness.parliament.uk/Document/85314/OP240221_-_Copy.html
Ceasefire in Gaza – SNP motion
“That this House calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Israel; notes with shock and distress that the death toll has now risen beyond 28,000, the vast majority of whom were women and children; further notes that there are currently 1.5 million Palestinians sheltering in Rafah, 610,000 of whom are children; also notes that they have nowhere else to go; condemns any military assault on what is now the largest refugee camp in the world; further calls for the immediate release of all hostages taken by Hamas and an end to the collective punishment of the Palestinian people; and recognises that the only way to stop the slaughter of innocent civilians is to press for a ceasefire now.”
Ceasefire in Gaza – Labour Amendment
Leave out from “House” to end and add:
“believes that an Israeli ground offensive in Rafah risks catastrophic humanitarian consequences and therefore must not take place; notes the intolerable loss of Palestinian life, the majority being women and children; condemns the terrorism of Hamas who continue to hold hostages; supports Australia, Canada and New Zealand’s calls for Hamas to release and return all hostages and for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, which means an immediate stop to the fighting and a ceasefire that lasts and is observed by all sides, noting that Israel cannot be expected to cease fighting if Hamas continues with violence and that Israelis have the right to the assurance that the horror of 7 October 2023 cannot happen again; therefore supports diplomatic mediation efforts to achieve a lasting ceasefire; demands that rapid and unimpeded humanitarian relief is provided in Gaza; further demands an end to settlement expansion and violence; urges Israel to comply with the International Court of Justice’s provisional measures; calls for the UN Security Council to meet urgently; and urges all international partners to work together to establish a diplomatic process to deliver the peace of a two-state solution, with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state, including working with international partners to recognise a Palestinian state as a contribution to rather than outcome of that process, because statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people and not in the gift of any neighbour.”
Ceasefire in Gaza – Government Amendment
Leave out from “House” to end and add:
“supports Israel’s right to self-defence, in compliance with international humanitarian law, against the terror attacks perpetrated by Hamas; condemns the slaughter, abuse and gender-based violence perpetrated on 7 October 2023; further condemns the use of civilian areas by Hamas and others for terrorist operations; urges negotiations to agree an immediate humanitarian pause as the best way to stop the fighting and to get aid in and hostages out; supports moves towards a permanent sustainable ceasefire; acknowledges that achieving this will require all hostages to be released, the formation of a new Palestinian Government, Hamas to be unable to launch further attacks and to be no longer in charge in Gaza, and a credible pathway to a two-state solution which delivers peace, security and justice for both Israelis and Palestinians; expresses concern at the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and at the prospect of a military offensive in Rafah; reaffirms the urgent need to significantly scale up the flow of aid into Gaza, where too many innocent civilians have died; and calls on all parties to take immediate steps to stop the fighting and ensure unhindered humanitarian access.”
Ceasefire in Gaza – Liberal Democrat Amendment
Leave out from “House” to end and add:
“expresses its devastation at the mounting humanitarian disaster in Gaza with tens of thousands of innocent Palestinians killed, millions displaced and thousands of homes destroyed; calls on the Prime Minister to oppose publicly and at the UN Security Council the proposed IDF offensive in Rafah; further urges Hamas to unconditionally and immediately release the over 100 hostages taken following the deplorable attacks on 7 October 2023; notes the unprecedented levels of illegal settler violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories left unchecked by the Israeli Government; welcomes the recent sanctions by the UK Government against four extremist Israeli settlers who have committed human rights abuses against Palestinian communities in the West Bank; urges the UK Government to sanction all violent settlers and their connected entities; calls on the UK Government to uphold international law and the judgments of international courts under all circumstances; further notes that the only path to regional security is a two-state solution based on 1967 borders with Hamas not in power; condemns Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s repeated assertions that there is no future for a Palestinian state; and further urges the UK Government to call for an immediate bilateral ceasefire in Gaza, which will allow an end to the humanitarian devastation, get the hostages out and provide an opportunity for a political process leading to a two-state solution, providing security and dignity for all peoples in Palestine and Israel.”