Councillors in Bath have unanimously backed calls for a ceasefire in Gaza after months of protest in the city.

Bath and North East Somerset Council’s three Green councillors had been blocked from bringing a motion on the issue before a full council meeting in March as it was judged to be out of scope for the local authority.

But after members of Bath’s Palestinian community addressed the full council meeting in May, describing receiving the “devastating news” of family members killed in Gaza, a reworded motion was permitted to come before the council’s latest full council meeting on Thursday July 18 — where it was passed unanimously.

The motion passed supports calls for a ceasefire and calls on the government to allow routes for safety for the most vulnerable in Gaza, and looks at how the council can better support local residents. It also asks the council leader to write to the government on behalf of the council to urge a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and “lasting peace” with a two-state solution.

Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse signed an early day motion in the house of commons also calling for an immediate bilateral ceasefire and a two state solution.