University of Manchester students retract motion claiming Israeli genocide in Gaza

Students at the University of Manchester have withdrawn a 2,000 word motion expressing solidarity with Palestinians following a backlash against claims made in the statement.

Accusations that Israel have committed genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza were retracted last week.

The university’s Friends of Palestine group lodged the motion with the student union earlier in the year, sparking outrage from Manchester University’s Friends of Israel Society.

Claims that the proposal and procedures to consider it were unlawful were lodged, saying that the motion contained “false and one-sided allegations”.

Accusations of Israel “in its entirety” being “an apartheid settler-colonial state committing ongoing genocide against Palestinians” are contained within. It also recognises that “as an occupied nation, the people of Palestine have the right to armed resistance under international law.”

The motion argues against an “impossible” two-state solution, showing support for the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel.

It also advocates for a “single, free, multi-faith Palestinian state”.

A debate took place in March within the student union, with Jewish students putting forward nine amendments to the motion. These included recognising Hamas as a terrorist organisation, and calling for Hamas to release hostages still held captive.

These amendments were rejected during the debate.

A silent protest was held by Jewish students outside the  Students Union building, with pictures of hostages held in Gaza displayed.

Jonathan Turner, chief executive of UK Lawyers for Israel, worked with the Friends of Israel Society on getting the motion dropped and issued a statement following the news: “We are very pleased with this outcome, which clearly results from drawing attention to the student union’s legal obligations.

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“Student unions must conduct political debates fairly, must not discriminate against Jewish or Israeli students, and must not engage in political campaigns outside their charitable objects.

“We congratulate Naomi Brookarsh, president of the Israel Society at Manchester University, on her work resisting this attempt to misuse the student union to intimidate Jewish students and other students who support Israel.” 

The Students Union apologised for the length of time it took to consider the motion, and said that “We will be reviewing our democratic processes as a result.”

“We stand in full solidarity with the Palestinian resistance to ongoing genocide in Gaza.

“The double standards held over colonised people compared to those doing the colonising are absurd.

“Those in support of Palestinian liberation are required to constantly qualify their support of basic human rights, whilst Israel continues its extermination, starvation and ‘conquest’ of Palestinians undeterred.”

It went on to criticise charity law, which it said prevented students’ unions from taking “principled positions and resourcing campaigns on the most pressing issues of our day”.

A spokesperson for the University of Manchester told The Telegraph that:

“Students’ Union motions are independent of the university and there is no obligation to implement them, but we raised concerns about the proposed motion and are pleased that students took these seriously.

“The conflict in Gaza is deeply distressing for many in our community. As a university, we are committed to upholding free speech and fostering respectful debate within the law.”

Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine and the Israeli Embassy have been contacted for comment.