Bracknell Forest Council calls for ceasefire in Gaza

The authority join other councils in Berkshire, including Reading and Slough, in calling for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

This comes after a motion was passed at a full council meeting of BFC on Wednesday, July 10. Presented by Cllr Zahuraddin and seconded by Cllr Smith, the motion aims to support the government in calls for a ceasefire, the safe return of hostages and the implementation of safe pathways for humanitarian aid.

Cllr Zahuraddin said: “Our commitment to human rights and justice should compel us to act, even if our actions seem small on the global stage.

“Our endorsement may be a small gesture, but it is a crucial one. By voting in favour, we are standing against hatred and violence and for peace and humanity. Let us ensure that our council does whatever it can, however small, to contribute to resolving this.”

Councillors noted that the Gaza zone is around three times the size of the Bracknell Forest borough, and that many residents had worked there, or had family members affected by the conflict.

The motion also re-asserts the council’s commitment to ‘opposing antisemitism, islamophobia and all other forms of hatred or prejudicial behaviour’.

An estimated 37,000 Palestinians and more than 1,000 Israelis have died due to the conflict since October 2023. An estimated 1.7m Palestinians are currently internally displaced within Gaza.

The vast majority voted in favour of the motion – with only two councillors abstaining from the vote.

(Image: Ruth Lucas LDRS)

One of those abstaining was Conservative Cllr Gaw, who expressed concern with the ‘inclusivity’ of the motion.

She explained: “I acknowledge everything I’ve heard today regarding the motion, but for me the motion fails to express appropriate inclusive balance in it’s terminology.”

She added that ‘does not consider all other foreign conflicts and persecutions’ affecting ‘millions’ of people across the world, including in Nigeria, Yemen and Ukraine.

Councillor Gaw, who abstained from the vote (Image: Bracknell Forest Council)

Following the vote, council leader Mary Templeton will write to the government expressing ‘support of Bracknell Forest in welcoming refugees from Gaza and other conflict zones via any schemes the government should put in place’.

This would be ‘limited and proportionate pathways’ such as a VISA scheme for those with families already in the UK – similar to already existing schemes for refugees from Ukraine and Afghanistan.

Cllr Smith urged Cllr Gawe to ‘not let the perfect be the enemy of the good’ and said he would be keen to work with his colleague if she wants to bring other motions to the council ‘in respect to other conflicts’ in the future.