Derry and Strabane council calls for expulsion of Israeli diplomats over siege of Gaza

https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/derry-strabane-council-calls-expulsion-27982061

> *The council passed two motions on the conflict condemning violence in both Israel and Palestine*

> A Northern Ireland council is calling for the expulsion of Israeli ambassadors by the Irish and British governments over the “genocidal siege of Gaza”.

> Derry City and Strabane council backed the motion, put forward by People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin, after the largest party on the council – Sinn Fein – opted not to vote.

> Councillor Harkin said: “We need to do everything we can to stop Israel’s genocidal siege of Gaza. We need to bring as much pressure on the British and US governments and the EU to stop Israel’s assault.”

> The vote took place against the backdrop of the deepening conflict in the Middle East as civilians continue to suffer under a total siege imposed by Israel in the wake of an unprecedented incursion by Hamas militants.

> The United Nations, senior EU figures and aid agencies have all expressed alarm as many Palestinians struggle to flee ahead of a “co-ordinated” offensive in the Gaza Strip involving air, ground and naval forces.

> An SDLP motion was also backed by Derry and Strabane council on Wednesday that condemned the “horrifying violence and indiscriminate murder of civilians in Gaza and southern Israel”, called for a ceasefire, the release of hostages taken by Hamas, backed an investigation of potential war crimes, and called for a two-state solution.

> That motion was put forward by SDLP councillor Brian Tierney, who said: “That’s what we think should happen. We have put a bit of work into this. We have done a bit of communication with people who are in Palestine who are impacted by what’s going on there.

> “This is what our understanding of what the people out there want.”

> Mr Tierney’s motion was passed with 26 votes in favour, none against with 11 councillors abstaining.

> Councillor Harkin’s motion, meanwhile, went a step further and called for the council to write to the Irish and British governments to call for “an immediate cessation of the bombardment and genocidal siege of Gaza; and for the immediate expulsion of Israeli ambassadors”.

> UUP councillor Ryan McCready, a decorated former soldier who served with the British army in the Middle East, was one of several councillors who spoke to condemn Hamas during the debate, describing the group as “an extension of ISIS and Daesh” who would have “no problem” beheading infidels.

> On the expulsion of Israeli diplomats, he said there should be “more dialogue, not less dialogue”.

> Sinn Fein group leader Christopher Jackson explained his party’s position: “What we can’t ignore is that there’s women and children being slaughtered on a daily basis in Gaza – an area the size of this council area with two million people, fifty per cent of them are children.

> “The information and the feedback we’re receiving on a daily basis from leaders within Palestine is that they want a focus on the immediate cessation of indiscriminate bombing, and for international law to be completely respected.

> “It’s been ignored for decades now but the focus needs to be on those key asks.”

> Mr Harkin, meanwhile, said: “Palestinian refugees who are scattered across the world, six million of them, are looking to the people of Ireland to take a really strong stand. I believe the people of Ireland have been doing that and I believe we have to put pressure on the Irish government in particular to take a stand that is in line with what the vast majority of people across this island actually believe.

> “I think calling for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador is a small step towards that, because what it says is Israel is a pariah state. Apartheid Israel, what it’s doing to people in Gaza and what it’s doing to people across Palestine is unacceptable.”

> The People Before Profit motion passed with 12 votes in favour, eight against and 17 abstentions.

by Diomas