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More than a thousand local councillors have signed a pledge of solidarity with the Palestinian people.
With so many Labour-run councils already in jeopardy in the forthcoming local elections, campaigners believe this could be a deciding issue in key areas.
But the Israeli embassy says the pledge is a “disgraceful effort at intimidation”.
In total, 1,028 councillors have now signed up to “uphold the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people” and ensure their council is not complicit in what they claim are “Israel’s violations of international law”, such as divesting from pension funds invested in arms companies.
Among the signees is Hackney Green Councillor Zoe Garbett.
“I think that this is really important to uphold the rights of the Palestinian people and to make sure that we can make ethical investments,” she told Sky News, adding that this was an issue that residents had raised with the council.
“They want to see their council representing them on a national level,” she said.
“We know that most people really want to see an end to the genocide in Gaza, and an end to wars and conflicts all across the world, and they want to see their local representatives standing up for them.”
Israel denies the accusations of genocide in Gaza.
Most signees from Green and Labour parties
So far, 345 of the councillors who’ve signed the Palestine Pledge are from the Greens, followed by 338 from Labour, 104 Lib Dems, 38 members of the SNP, 17 from Plaid Cymru, 12 from Your Party, three Conservatives and many more independents.
Labour has long been divided on the issue of Gaza.
The prime minister’s initial reluctance to call for a ceasefire after the October 7 attacks led to a drop in support among Muslim communities at the last election. Four Labour MPs lost…
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