By Rachael Dexter
Melbourne City Council will vote on a motion calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.
Independent councillor Jamal Hakim has proposed the council back a motion asking the federal government to advocate for a list of seven demands.
City of Melbourne councillor Jamal Hakim outside state parliament last year.Credit: Justin McManus
They include a permanent ceasefire, the release of all Israeli hostages and imprisoned Palestinians, and to advocate for “an end to illegal Israeli settlements and the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories”.
The motion will be debated at a council meeting next Tuesday and follows other capital-city councils passing similar motions in Sydney and Hobart. Unlike other councils, the Melbourne motion will not call for the flying of the Palestinian flag at council chambers.
Hakim’s motion calls on the council to acknowledge the distress caused by the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza and recognise the profound impact of recent events including the atrocities committed on October 7, the hostages held in Gaza, prisoners in Israel and the continuous bombings in Gaza.
“These experiences are traumatising for many Melbourne residents who have relatives or a connection in the region, or who come from war-torn countries,” the motion states.
Victoria councils to have passed ceasefire motions as of February 15
- Merri-bek
- Maribyrnong
- Dandenong
- Yarra
- Hume
- Darebin
- Wyndham
Asked why the ceasefire motion was necessary given the federal government already voted in favour of an immediate ceasefire in December, Hakim said the council needed to push the federal government to “go further” considering Israel’s recent advance into the southern city of Rafah. It is considered the last “safe” place in Gaza for civilians, but has been described by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the “last bastion” of Hamas.
Gaza health officials said at least 28,500 Palestinians have been killed since Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7. More than 1400 Israelis have been killed, including about 1200 on October 7, according to Israeli tallies.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the prime ministers of Canada and New Zealand released a joint statement airing their grave concerns about reports of Israel’s military operation in Rafah, warning a military operation into the city would be catastrophic with 1.5 million Palestinians taking refuge there.
Hakim said his council motion was also in response to the thousands of people taking to CBD streets on weekends for pro-Palestine protests, which he had attended multiple times.
“This motion looks different than other local governments. It’s about recognising it from a humanitarian perspective,” he said.
“This escalation in Rafah over the weekend is unjustifiable and getting to the point where the [community] pressure will continue to build and it will be impossible to ignore.”
In response to the motion, the Jewish Community Council of Victoria – the state peak body for local Jewish community groups and schools – said there was “absolutely no need for local councils to be weighing in on foreign affairs” and called for councillors to reject the motion.
“We have seen how this plays out. Councillors who have passed motions on the Israel-Hamas conflict have caused nothing but division and animosity in their communities,” said Philip Zajac, President of the JCCV in a statement.
“Instead, we call on the City of Melbourne to show leadership in speaking out against boycotts of Jewish-owned small businesses in the CBD and in removing vile antisemitic graffiti that has blanketed the Melbourne CBD for months.”
Melbourne-based Jewish activist group Loud Jew Collective - which supports the Palestinian cause - has previously said such motions were, “an important show of solidarity with Palestinians”.
Melbourne council areas with large Jewish populations – including the Glen Eira, Stonnington and Port Phillip councils – have also passed motions and made public statements in solidarity with their communities, but did not include calls for a ceasefire.
The City of Melbourne lit up Melbourne Town Hall in blue and white – the colours of the Israeli flag – in the aftermath of the Hamas terrorist attack, and in November, Lord Mayor Sally Capp read a statement at a council meeting stating the city “acknowledges the ongoing trauma stemming from conflicts in Israel and Gaza” and that council’s role was to de-escalate tensions in Melbourne.
Seven Victorian councils have passed motions since October 7 explicitly calling for a ceasefire: Merri-bek, Maribyrnong, Dandenong, Yarra, Hume, Darebin and Wyndham.
Shepparton and Monash councils both debated ceasefire motions but they were ultimately voted down last year, while the Geelong council executive knocked back discussion of a motion.
The ceasefire motions have varied in their wording and actions from council to council. A number include solidarity statements with affected members of their communities, while also condemning violence and committing to writing to the federal government to call for an immediate ceasefire.
Others go further – including those of Merri-bek, Darebin and Maribyrnong – by committing to flying the Palestinian flag at council chambers and investigating ways the councils can cancel contracts with “companies that support Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine or profit from it” – in moves condemned by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.
The motions have resulted in highly emotional debates playing out in council chambers. Merri-bek councillor Oscar Yildiz revealed last year he and his family had received death threats after he voted against his council’s ceasefire motion.
Earlier this week, Hobsons Bay Council was presented with a petition asking for a ceasefire motion and responded by passing a motion that did not mention Palestine, Gaza or call for a ceasefire but instead expressed sympathy with locals affected by “conflicts taking place overseas … in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world, including Ukraine, Sudan and Myanmar”.
“I think this motion is measured, reasonable responsible position that acknowledges the loss and suffering experienced by our community,” said Hobsons Bay councillor Tony Briffa while recommending the successful motion.
In scenes similar to those at Victorian councils where ceasefire motions have been debated, during the Hobsons Bay debate pro-Palestinian advocates in the public gallery shouted, “Free, free Palestine” and “shame” at councillors. One man yelled he had family in Gaza “getting killed”.