In a win for the Palestinian led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, Oxford City Council has passed a motion supporting cutting ties with companies which are complicit in violations of human rights and international law. In its decision, the council cited the recent International Court of Justice (ICJ) rulings that it was plausible that Israel is commiting genocide in Gaza.
Independent councillors brought forward the motion, which calls for Oxford City Council to avoid trade and investment relations and cooperation with entities complicit in violations of human rights and international law.
On Monday, Oxford Councillor Hosnieh Djafari-Marbini said councillors had “unanimously passed a boycott and divestment motion citing the ICJ rulings on Palestine”.
The motion calls on Oxfordshire Pension Fund to divest from companies involved in “grave violations of human rights” such as through the “production of weapons” and military tech used to commit violations of international law. The Pension Fund must heed this call.
As part of this, the council will take steps towards replacing its banking contract with Barclays, which has been a focus of pro-Palestine protests over its investments in Israeli arms companies.
Councillor Barbara Coyne, who proposed the motion, said: “I hope this motion will be thoroughly implemented, and that its passage may pave the way for other councils to take decisive action.”
Oxford’s decision comes after months of campaigning by local residents, students and trade unionists
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