As well as a ceasefire, the Council today called for a release of all hostages caught up in the conflict, international co-operation to provide humanitarian aid, and a long-term two-state solution for the peoples of Israel and Palestine.

Council Leader Joe Fagan said: “I am glad that all political groups were able to come together to agree a motion that adds our voice to the growing demands across the world for a ceasefire, most recently from the UN Security Council.

“We have all watched on in horror as events have unfolded, with so much death, injury and destruction, and now the spectre of famine. As a council we don’t pretend to have all the answers, but we agree it starts with a ceasefire so that a long-term solution can be pursued by all.”

The composite motion that was agreed by all councillors condemned both the Hamas terror attack of 7 October 2023 and subsequent actions and also the conduct of the subsequent war by the Israeli government.

It recognised that many families and communities in South Lanarkshire have been affected by the violence and resolved to stand up against discrimination and hate crime, resolving that there is no place for anti-Semitism, Islamophobia or hatred of any kind.