Zurich City Council calls for money for Gaza

At the end of an hour-long debate, the proposal by the SP, Greens and AL was approved by a majority of 58 votes to 47, with five abstentions.

The terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel last October should be condemned in the strongest possible terms, said Severin Meier (SP). The same applied to the subsequent violations of international humanitarian law committed by Israel's army.

The city of Zurich could neither put an end to Hamas terror nor ensure compliance with international law, Meier explained. "But it can make a contribution to alleviating humanitarian suffering."

The City Council was prepared to accept the postulate, as Mayor Corine Mauch (SP) said. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic. This is a statement, not a partisanship for one side or the other. "We have to make a contribution on the ground, it's what we can do."

The Center Party spoke out against the postulate: "Foreign policy is a matter for the federal government," said Karin Weyermann. The FDP took a similar view: the mention of the controversial UN refugee relief organization UNRWA showed that the postulants wanted to override the foreign policy of the federal government, which had cut its contribution, said Michael Schmid.

The GLP therefore suggested that the political aspect - the mention of UNRWA - should be omitted from the proposal; the contribution or donation should simply go to "an international organization". The opponents indicated that they wanted to support a modified postulate focusing on humanitarian aid.

However, the postulants did not agree to this amendment - they argued that organizations other than UNRWA could not provide aid on the ground. The SP, Greens and AL had enough of their own votes to get the motion through.