Derry and Strabane District Council commits to divesting from companies not BDS compliant

Derry City and Strabane District Council has committed to divesting from companies which are not Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) compliant.

At Thursday’s meeting of Council’s BDS Working Group, it was confirmed Council has divested from all British banks and building societies identified in the 2023 ‘Continued complicity in Illegal Israeli settlement enterprise’ report.

BDS is a non-violent, Palestinian-led movement promoting boycotts, divestments and economic sanctions against Israel.

Its objective is to pressure Israel to meet its obligations under international law to withdrawal from the occupied territories, removal of the separation barrier in the West Bank, full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel and “respecting, protecting, and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties”.

The BDS movement is organised and co-ordinated by the Palestinian BDS National Committee.

Council’s move has been welcomed by the Bloody Sunday Trust, BDS Strabane, and Derry Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC).

According to the three groups, the UN Advisory Opinion of July 2024, determined Israel's occupation of Palestinian Territories since 1967, and the subsequent creation of Israeli settlements and exploitation of natural resources within those territories were illegal under international law.

They added this created a clear legal and moral imperative for organisations across all sectors to comprehensively review all economic ties with Israel - including business and finance, pension funds, academia, and charities.

While welcoming the Council decision in this context, the three groups said it must now go further and implement an ethical procurement policy that is also BDS compliant.

They said while procurement was an issue covered by a range of legislation, the Procurement Act 2023 provides a clear legal basis for taking ethical issues into account during procurement, and the current situation in Palestine is clearly an ethical issue that has to be prioritised.

Bloody Sunday Trust chairperson Tony Doherty said: “This is welcome news. Since Israel broke the ceasefire almost two months ago not a piece of bread, a bottle of water, or a pill of medicine has been allowed to reach Gaza.

"Humanitarian operations have been stifled by a combination of expanded military activity, the Israeli government’s blockade on the entry of humanitarian aid and commercial supplies, killing of aid workers, attacks on medical facilities and the displacement of over 400,000 people. Over 15,000 children have been killed since October 2023.

"Across the West Bank the Israeli military has been conducting devastating military operations in which hundreds have been killed, many thousands have been displaced, and massive damage has been caused. Israel’s illegal settlements continue to expand and grow unchecked, with regular announcements by the Israeli Government of new homes on stolen Palestinian land that are met with silence by the international community including shamefully the Irish Government.

“Given the clear legal precedent that now exists for such action, Derry City and Strabane District Council can and must take a stronger line on procurement. In Britain, Oxford City Council has passed a motion to cut 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 is plausible that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza,” said mr Doherty, who added: “The recent Oxford City Council motion follows the earlier 2016 UK High Court ruling in favour of three Councils which had passed boycott motions in solidarity with Palestine”.

Mr Doherty added that Derry City and Strabane District Council could and should “significantly strengthen its approach to implementing BDS policies”.

“It should also recognize that one local council acting on its own can do little but a joint approach with Donegal, Belfast and other like-minded Councils across the North would have a much more powerful impact. This is something that DCSDC should therefore actively explore.”

Adam Mc Ginley, Co-Chairperson of BDS Strabane, also welcomed the announcement.

“Following the recent BDS Working Group meeting, we were informed of Council's divestment. It also communicated its commitment to undertaking an Ethical Procurement Policy which will be BDS compliant, in effect, implementing the boycott of Israeli goods, services and complicit companies,” said Mr McGinley.

“This is a massive win for BDS and the Palestinian solidarity movement. Our hope is that this will serve as an example to other local authorities & will hopefully galvanise them to take similar action.

“We will continue to push DSDC to ensure they uphold their obligations under international law & along with Derry IPSC, Bloody Sunday Trust and council members, we will work to ensure further progress and input to council through the BDS Working Group in these matters.

“Let’s together, stand against Israeli genocide, occupation, apartheid and bring to a close the dangerous ideology of Zionism. Let’s, together, stand on the right side of history."

Catherine Hutton, Chairperson of Derry IPSC described Council’s BDS decision as “a huge win for BDS, an example to other local authorities and a message of solidarity to the Palestinian people."

Sinn Fein councillor Pat Murphy said it was “great news Derry City and Strabane District Council has divested from financial institutions complicit in the ongoing genocide in Palestine”.

He added: “This is to be welcomed by everyone who is horrified by ongoing events in Gaza and the Occupied West Bank. BDS works. Support and promote it with family, friends and your community.”