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RESOLVED:

1.      That this Council:

a)           
Expresses deep
sympathy for all those affected by the conflict in Israel and
Palestine.  To those in the city of
Milton Keynes who have been affected by this conflict we offer our
support in this difficult time and commit to working for peace and
unity to further love, respect, and harmony for the city of Milton
Keynes.

b)           
Deplores the taking of
hostages, and their mistreatment, by Hamas and the subsequent death
and destruction in Gaza. Believes that the urgent priority must be
to stop the deaths and suffering of any more civilians in Gaza,
Israel, and the rest of Palestine.

c)            
Hopes for an immediate
further release of all hostages and release of Palestinian
prisoners held without charge and an immediate and permanent
cessation of hostilities to allow more aid to the civilian
population of Gaza and the negotiation of a peaceful
resolution. 

d)           
Believes that the only
credible basis for long-term peace is the delivery of a permanent
Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel.

e)           
Notes that since 7
October 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, the present
Israeli government has killed, excluding Hamas combatants, over
30,000 Palestinians, including 14,000 women and children,
with  90,000 wounded, and many more
feared dead.

f)             
Notes that the UN
Secretary-General, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and
others have said that both Israel and Hamas have committed grave
violations of international law during the fighting.  The International Court of Justice has ruled that
there was a risk of irreparable harm to right of  Palestinian civilians to be protected from
genocide.

g)           
Notes that there has
been over 2 million displaced people and increased cases of
malnutrition in Gaza are rising at a dramatic and tragic rate, with
reported deaths increasing daily through starvation and
thirst.

h)           
Notes that all 12
universities and 90% of 345 schools in Gaza have been destroyed and
bombed by Israel. There are 625,000 children out of
school.
i)             
Notes that the new
government has called for an immediate ceasefire, restoration for
funding for aid agencies, access to Gaza for aid, highlighted the
need for a viable two state solution, and has committed to
recognising a State of Palestine.

2.      That this Council calls on the
government to:

a)      Press for an immediate agreement
by all parties involved to the provisions of UN Resolution 2735
(2024), which will bring about an immediate ceasefire, concurrent
with which there will be a release of Hamas-held hostages and
Israeli-held prisoners.  This to be
followed by a lasting peace agreement and
reconstruction.

b)      Work to ensure that
international humanitarian law is upheld and that civilians on both
sides are protected in accordance with those laws; including during
the post-conflict reconstruction phase.

c)      Work to ensure that civilians
have access to humanitarian support, including unfettered access to
medical supplies, food,?fuel,?and water.

3.      This Council resolves to ask the
executive to consider how they could:

a)      Work to better support and
facilitate events for people of all faiths or none, where they can
come together and express solidarity and sadness in response to
these events noting the good work already being undertaken by a number
of groups, such as the Council of Faiths, several councillors and
individual places of worship which has already ensured a greater
level of community cohesion in Milton Keynes than has been
experienced in many other places.

b)      Offer appropriate support to any
local resident who needs our assistance as a result of these
violent events.

c)      Provide any appropriate support
to innocent people displaced and affected by these
events.

4.      That this
council:

a)      Calls on the UK government
to do all in its powers to support those that are committed to a
permanent peace and 2-state solution, by the adoption of UN
Resolution 2735 (2024): to be issued as document
S/RES/2735(2024).  The implementation of
this proposal would enable the following outcomes to spread over
three phases, the first of which would include an immediate, full
and complete ceasefire with the release of hostages; the return of
the remains of some hostages who have been killed; the exchange of
Palestinian prisoners; withdrawal of Israeli forces from the
populated areas in Gaza; the return of Palestinian civilians to
their homes; and the safe and effective distribution of
humanitarian assistance at scale throughout Gaza.
Phase two would see a permanent end to
hostilities in exchange for the release of all other hostages still
in Gaza and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the
area. 
Phase three would mark the start of a
major multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza and the return of the
remains of any deceased hostages still in the Gaza to their
families.

b)      Notes that the Council
procurement policy already requires contractors and suppliers to
comply with national and international law.

c)      Ask the Leaders of Political
Group to write to the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth,
and Development Affairs to call on the UK government to press all
parties to agree to:
(i)        an urgent,
permanent, biliteral ceasefire in Gaza, Israel, and to make every
effort to resume the peace process;
(ii)       guarantee that
international humanitarian law is upheld and that civilians are
protected in accordance with those laws; and
(iii)      allow the Red Cross and Red
Crescent immediate access to all surviving hostages in Gaza, in
order to provide urgent medical aid to the elderly, sick, and
wounded and to ensure all civilians have access to medical
supplies, food, electricity, other fuel, and water.