Council considers Gaza ceasefire motion
Shetland Times
Councillors are to consider backing a motion that calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
At a full council meeting next week, Alex Armitage will present a motion to councillors urging the UK government to push for an end to the war in the Middle East.
Shetland Central member Ian Scott has backed the motion, which is supported by a petition calling for councillors to put pressure on the UK government.
Started by Shetlander Leanne Goodlad, the petition asks for an immediate and permanent ceasefire with the provision of humanitarian aid.
It also condemns the “brutal campaign of devastation against the Gazan population”.
Israel and militant group Hamas have been at war since a surprise Hamas-led attack in southern Israel on 7th October.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians have since been killed in the conflict.
Jim Brown
It’s not a council’s job to take a position on such things.
Robert SANDISON
What about the war in Ukraine far more people killed there but no protests for that .
Avalina Kreska
Does the Shetland Island Council have the right to speak on behalf of the people of Shetland on this matter?
It’s maybe not known that Palestine actually started this latest debacle! It’s a complicated relationship but this latest assault was definitely not started by the Jews!
The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented assault on Israel on 7 October, with hundreds of gunmen infiltrating communities near the Gaza Strip… Hamas announced the start of what it called “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood”, stating it had fired over 5,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel within a span of 20 minutes. Israeli sources reported that at least 3,000 projectiles had been launched from Gaza. Three hundred women and children were also captured and some are still missing (according to friends we have in Israel).
Be aware, various media outlets are particularly one-sided on this issue!
Peter Dixon
As a poll tax payer, I strongly object to the council wasting our meager resources on geopolitical issues when we have much more prescient issues such as rising energy costs or climate issues to deal with. Israel is a problem that has no relevance to these islands and I side with one of the posters above that the Ukraine invasion receives little attention – seems to me a very selective indignancy by members of the council to raise such an issue. I have forwarded this to friends in Israel who may be very pleased to hear such one-sided views being raised by a small group of Islands in the North Sea.
wayne conroy
This is a subject that does not nor should not have anything to do with the Shetland Islands Council.
A dozen or so protestors far from represent the whole of the Shetland population and should not be something that the council are wasting time on.
Andy Morrison
Obviously Mr Armitage is blissfully unaware of the more prolific powers at be already fully engaged in their attempts at de-escalation within this conflict.
I am sure Benjamin Netanyahu will be googling both him & Shetland’s in depth diplomacy & experience in dealing with terrorism and continuous military threat from neighbouring countries…
Orkney producing the odd upset within the inter-county does not count within this debate.
In all seriousness, it’s the Rose-bank oil field, it’s Palestine, it’s anyone who drives a vehicle other than bicycle, anyone who doesn’t align with a particular persons principles or views whilst downing tools and finding time to parade about the Clickimin loch with a drum & 5 friends protesting an oilfield development that will bring job opportunities and development to Shetland whilst delivering a justified and practical Energy Transition.
Start listening to local voices Mr Armitage and know your audience.
Best wishes.