The Ordinary Plenary Session of the San Bartolomé Town Council, held this Wednesday, has unanimously approved by all its members a historic motion of solidarity with the Palestinian people and condemnation of the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip. The proposal includes adherence to the Urgent Manifesto for Gaza supported by organizations such as UNICEF, Oxfam Intermón or Médicos Sin Fronteras.
In his speech, the mayor, Isidro Pérez, expressed the “unwavering support of Spanish society for Israel's right to exist and defend itself from terrorist attacks”, in reference to the Hamas attacks of October 7. “But”, the mayor clarified, “with the same conviction, the vast majority of Spanish society believes that one thing is to protect your country and your people and another very different thing is to bomb hospitals and starve innocent boys and girls. We cannot remain indifferent to the humanitarian tragedy that the population of Gaza is suffering.”
A humanitarian tragedy with staggering figures
The motion includes the “staggering” data from the manifesto, which has been “overwhelmed” in recent weeks: more than 64,600 dead, 163,000 injured and two million people forcibly displaced, half of them minors. The mayor highlighted the “extreme cruelty” that “2,444 people have been murdered and 17,831 injured in the hunger queues, waiting to receive humanitarian aid.”
“We are not just talking about numbers, but about human lives cut short: children who will not play again, mothers and fathers who will no longer be able to hug their children. Gaza today is a mirror in which the fragility of our humanity is reflected,” said Isidro Pérez. “The pain of the Palestinian people challenges us, demands that we not look the other way.”
Agreements adopted
Following the approval of the motion, the San Bartolomé Town Council commits to:
Demand an immediate and definitive ceasefire in Gaza.
Urge the total opening of border crossings to guarantee the massive entry of humanitarian aid.
Defend the full restoration of the mandate of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).
Condemn the use of hunger and forced displacement as weapons of war.
Transfer this agreement to the Government of Spain, the European Parliament and the UN to exert diplomatic pressure.
Officially adhere to the Urgent Manifesto for Gaza.
Urge the Parliament of the Canary Islands, the island councils and the rest of the municipalities, through the FECAM, to join the initiative.
Express the solidarity of the people of San Bartolomé with the population of Gaza and promote awareness and humanitarian aid actions.
Urge all Political Groups in the Spanish Courts to validate the measures adopted by the Government of Spain against the genocide in Gaza.
Mayor Isidre Pérez stressed that “with this motion the San Bartolomé Town Council acts in accordance with the values of solidarity and justice that define Canarian society” and underlined a quote from the Manifesto for Gaza: “History will not judge what we said, but what we did. Or we didn't do”
