Calderdale councillors back Gaza ceasefire motion

Councillors passed the ceasefire motion at a full meeting of the authority at Halifax Town Hall

A motion calling for an "immediate and permanent" ceasefire in Gaza has been passed by Labour-run Calderdale Council.

At a full council meeting on Wednesday, the majority of councillors supported the motion, which also called for the release and return of all hostages.

The meeting was briefly adjourned while a protester shouting that the move was "too little, too late" was removed from the chamber at Halifax Town Hall.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had previously called for Israel to comply with international law in the conflict, but stopped short of calling for a ceasefire.

At Wednesday's meeting, two motions were put to Calderdale councillors, one from Councillor Abigail Carr from the Liberal Democrat Group and the second from Labour council leader Jane Scullion.

Ms Carr told the meeting that residents in Calderdale had asked for councillors to discuss the situation in Gaza, adding: "The Jewish community is feeling scared and the Muslim community is feeling unheard."

Leading the debate for Labour, Councillor Silvia Dacre said: "We know there are residents who have been personally affected by the horrific ongoing situation in the Middle East.

"As elected representatives, we feel it is important to amplify their voices through this motion."

An amended Labour motion calling for an "immediate and permanent ceasefire" and the release and return of all hostages was later passed.

Councillors added their "unequivocal condemnation of the conduct of the Israeli government in its campaign, which has meant 1.5 million people have been displaced".

They also recorded that they "unequivocally condemn the terrorist attacks by Hamas against civilians in Israel, including the use of violence against women and girls".

The Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green Party groups voted in favour of the amended motion, while the Conservative group abstained.

Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail].