Belfast City Hall row over word ‘genocide’ in Gaza motion

A motion to lobby against the blocking of the maternity vehicles was brought to the September meeting of the City Council on Tuesday with unionists ending up on one side of the debate and the rest of the parties on the other.

In the end the “Mobile Maternity Units for Gaza” motion, proposed by Independent Councillor Paul Doherty, and seconded by Independent Councillor Paul McCusker, was passed, but without the support of the DUP, the UUP and the TUV.

The successful motion means the council will write to all the NI Executive ministers, calling on them to make urgent representations to the Irish Government, UK Government and other relevant international bodies to secure the immediate entry of mobile maternity units, sent by Irish volunteers Gaels Against Genocide, to Gaza.

Representatives from the DUP, the UUP, and the TUV all said that they supported the maternity units entering Gaza, but would not support the motion over the use of the word “genocide.”

Councillor Doherty said: “This motion tonight is not about politics, it is not about creating division, it is about a basic question of humanity. Three mobile maternity units have been built, and they are ready.

Sinn Féin Councillor Micheal Donnelly said: “The Israeli genocide has already claimed the lives of over 73,000 Palestinians. Over 38,000 of these have been women and children, and 21,700 specifically children.”

He added: “There can be no justification for preventing life-saving maternal care from reaching pregnant women. Mobile maternity units must be allowed into Gaza urgently, safely and without obstruction.”

DUP Alderman Dean McCullough said: “I would respectfully ask the proposer if he is willing to remove the reference to genocide.

"It is obviously a contested term, and I appreciate members will hold very strong opposing views on it. The deputation at the outset of the council was a very sincere one, which I don’t even think mentioned genocide.

“He could drop the word for the sake of getting the consensus, which I think would be quite something in Belfast City Council. Because we are very clear, any right-thinking person or party wants maternity units in Palestine or any other conflict zone. If we focus on humanitarianism, we need not even debate.”

Councillor Doherty replied: “No I will not accept that. This is absolutely a genocide.”

Alderman McCullough said he was “disappointed” with the reply, and added: “The loaded language, which is unnecessary, leaves us no option but to oppose that aspect. But we absolutely support the humanitarianism.”

He added: “I do not accept that Israel is committing genocide, and I reject that allegation.

TUV Councillor Ron McDowell said: “By and large the motion as it stands is a largely inoffensive motion. I don’t think anyone would be against the sentiment.” He asked: “So why will you not adopt a motion of consensus, by focusing on the things that we agree on, and dropping the political element.”

People Before Profit Councillor Michael Collins said: “You can nitpick on whether it is a genocide, but the Genocide Convention has deemed it a genocide, Amnesty International has deemed it a genocide, and the UN itself has deemed it a genocide.

“We know the DUP and Ron willingly go over to do meet and greets with Zionist ministers, and whoever else. We know you don’t have a problem with apartheid, with bombing innocent civilians in Gaza, and you have defended every action Israel took, and defended them to the hilt. We know you have no problem with illegal settlements.

“The party that claims to be pro-life, and chastises everyone in this chamber, can’t bring themselves to support three maternity units for babies in Gaza.”

Councillor Ron McDowell said he was “misrepresented” and added: “I have a problem with apartheid, I see something wrong with illegal settlements, I support ambulances going into Gaza, I don’t support the wording of this motion and I have to separate the two.”