Agenda item

In accordance with the Notice of Motion received under Section 4.19 of the Constitution, Councillor Elin Hywel will propose as follows:-

1.    That the Council recognizes our responsibility to protect the well-being and community cohesion of Gwynedd. That we want to see the communities and residents of Gwynedd living together in peace, through mutual respect and support. We see that recent events in Palestine and in Israel have a negative impact on our ability to be successful in fulfilling this responsibility. We see that wars have heart-breaking and disastrous effects here in Gwynedd. We reach out to the residents of Gwynedd at this time. We sympathize and mourn together.

2.    The Council notes our responsibility according to the Well-being of Future Generations Act to play our part to ensure that Wales is welcoming, safe and fair for everyone.

3.    As representatives of the residents of Gwynedd, we call for a peaceful response from the Welsh Government. We call on the Welsh Government, as our representatives on the international stage, to facilitate the establishment and immediate implementation of a humanitarian aid plan for the people of Gaza.

4.    That this motion declares that violence and acts of war against civilians cannot be justified. That this includes the violent actions of Hamas and their refusal to immediately release their hostages, together with Israel's disproportionate actions against the Palestinian people, which are in violation of international law.

5.    That we, Cyngor Gwynedd, call for a permanent and irreversible ceasefire in Gaza. We call on the Welsh Government, the UK and the international community to ensure a return to the negotiating table, and a fair and just solution for all the residents of Palestine and Israel, many who have settled, have family and loved ones here in Gwynedd.

1.    That the Council recognises our responsibility to protect the wellbeing and community cohesion of Gwynedd. That we want to see the communities and residents of Gwynedd living together in peace, through mutual respect and support.  We see that recent events in Palestine and in Israel have a negative impact on our ability to be successful in fulfilling this responsibility. We see that wars have heart-breaking and disastrous effects here in Gwynedd. We reach out to the residents of Gwynedd at this time. We sympathise and mourn together.

2.    The Council notes our responsibility according to the Well-being of Future Generations Act to play our part to ensure that Wales is welcoming, safe and fair for everyone.

3.    As representatives of the residents of Gwynedd, we call for a peaceful response from the Welsh Government.  We call on the Welsh Government, as our representatives on the international stage, to facilitate the establishment and immediate implementation of a humanitarian aid plan for the people of Gaza.

4.    That this motion declares that violence and acts of war against civilians cannot be justified. That this includes the violent actions of Hamas and their refusal to immediately release their hostages, together with Israel's disproportionate actions against the Palestinian people, which are in violation of international law.

5.    That we, Cyngor Gwynedd, call for a permanent and irreversible ceasefire in Gaza.   We call on the Welsh Government, the UK and the international community to ensure a return to the negotiating table, and a fair and just solution for all the residents of Palestine and Israel, many who have settled, have family and loved ones here in Gwynedd.

Submitted - the following notice of motion by Councillor Elin Hywel under Section 4.19 of the Constitution, and it was seconded:-

1.      That the Council recognises our responsibility to protect the wellbeing and community cohesion of Gwynedd. That we want to see the communities and residents of Gwynedd living together in peace, through mutual respect and support. We see that recent events in Palestine and in Israel have a negative impact on our ability to be successful in fulfilling this responsibility. We see that wars have heart-breaking and disastrous effects here in Gwynedd.  We reach out to the residents of Gwynedd at this time. We sympathise and mourn together.

2.      ⁠The Council notes our responsibility according to the Well-being of Future Generations Act to play our part to ensure that Wales is welcoming, safe and fair for everyone.

3.      ⁠As representatives of the residents of Gwynedd, we call for a peaceful response from the Welsh Government. We call on the Welsh Government, as our representatives on the international stage, to facilitate the establishment and immediate implementation of a humanitarian aid plan for the people of Gaza.

4.      That this motion declares that violence and acts of war against civilians cannot be justified. That this includes the violent actions of Hamas and their refusal to immediately release their hostages, together with Israel's disproportionate actions against the Palestinian people, which are in violation of international law.

5.      That we, Cyngor Gwynedd, call for a permanent and irreversible ceasefire in Gaza.   We call on the Welsh Government, the UK and the international community to ensure a return to the negotiating table, and a fair and just solution for all the residents of Palestine and Israel, many who have settled, have family and loved ones here in Gwynedd.

The member set out the context to her motion, noting that:

·         That the BBC reported today that more than 16,200 people, including approximately 7,000 children, had died in the Gaza Strip since 7 October, with thousands more missing under the rubble.

·         She hoped that her fellow members would support her motion to call on the Welsh Government to ensure an intense programme of humanitarian support for the people of Gaza, in the same way as the Council rightly chose to respond to an immense need in the past.

·         That Cyngor Gwynedd has a responsibility to respond to events that affected the residents of Gwynedd, and also a responsibility on a global level as a Welsh public body that is subject to the Future Generations Act.

·         That Gwynedd residents had been greatly affected by the war in Gaza, and that we had to state our viewpoint as a Council to facilitate a healthy, respectful and peaceful culture and to support the well-being development of our communities.

·         With a complete lack of leadership from the Welsh Government and the Westminster Government that we, as Gwynedd Councillors, had to step in and fill the gap for our residents and for peace.

Strong support was expressed to the motion by several members on the grounds of:-

·         That the situation affected the well-being of Gwynedd residents and it was not believed that anyone had been untouched by the horrific images that appeared on the television on a daily basis.

·         That some Gwynedd residents had personal connections in Gaza, and others were fearful of what might happen, and that we had a duty under equality legislation to promote community cohesion.

·         ⁠Although no increase had been seen in antisemitic and Islamophobic offences here in Gwynedd, it was understood that at least one event, which had been arranged to build bridges between people of different faiths, had been cancelled.

Councillor Richard Glyn Roberts asked for his vote to be recorded against the motion as he could not support a motion that called for stipulating the right of the state of Israel to protect itself as this played into the hands of antisemitic tendencies, which were on the rise.

RESOLVED to adopt the motion, namely:-

1.      That the Council recognises our responsibility to protect the wellbeing and community cohesion of Gwynedd. That we want to see the communities and residents of Gwynedd living together in peace, through mutual respect and support.  We see that recent events in Palestine and in Israel have a negative impact on our ability to be successful in fulfilling this responsibility.  We see that wars have heart-breaking and disastrous effects here in Gwynedd.   We reach out to the residents of Gwynedd at this time. We sympathise and mourn together.

2.      ⁠The Council notes our responsibility according to the Well-being of Future Generations Act to play our part to ensure that Wales is welcoming, safe and fair for everyone.

3.      ⁠As representatives of the residents of Gwynedd, we call for a peaceful response from the Welsh Government. We call on the Welsh Government, as our representatives on the international stage, to facilitate the establishment and immediate implementation of a humanitarian aid plan for the people of Gaza.

4.      That this motion declares that violence and acts of war against civilians cannot be justified. That this includes the violent actions of Hamas and their refusal to immediately release their hostages, together with Israel's disproportionate actions against the Palestinian people, which are in violation of international law.

5.      That we, Cyngor Gwynedd, call for a permanent and irreversible ceasefire in Gaza. We call on the Welsh Government, the UK and the international community to ensure a return to the negotiating table, and a fair and just solution for all the residents of Palestine and Israel, many who have settled, have family and loved ones here in Gwynedd.