Far North Mayor Moko Tepania wants his council to call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, at an extraordinary meeting, to stop the killing of innocent people and children in the conflict.
Tepania has introduced a notice of motion for Thursday’s extraordinary Far North District Council meeting, calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and endorsing a letter to be sent to the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs to show support and call for peace.
The war in Gaza started after Palestinian group Hamas launched an unprecedented raid into Israel on October 7. Hamas fighters stormed communities along Israel’s southern fence with Gaza. At least 1139 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the attack, and about 240 others were seized as captives and taken back into Gaza.
Israel then launched a major offensive against Hamas in Gaza that has since turned much of the territory to rubble and an estimated 35,500 Palestinians have been killed, many women and children.