On October 23, 2025, Hackney Council in east London held an emergency meeting prompted by local Green Party and independent councillors demanding immediate action regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The motion under debate called for the council to sever all ties with Israel over what they described as genocide in Gaza. The proposal included ending Hackney’s 58-year-old twinning arrangement with Haifa, Israel, and urging the divestment of the council’s pension fund from companies linked to Israel.

The meeting, notable for its passionate exchanges, featured Green councillor Alastair Binnie-Lubbock, who sharply condemned Israeli military actions and urged the council to take a clear stance. Sitting alongside Binnie-Lubbock was Zoë Garbett, elected as Hackney’s first Green mayor earlier in 2026, who has actively supported the motion. However, not all councillors agreed with this focus; Christopher Kennedy, a Labour councillor, criticized the meeting as a misuse of council time and questioned the timing, which coincided with the anniversary of Hamas’s attack on Israel’s border.

Hackney’s heightened focus on the Gaza conflict reflects a broader trend among UK local councils, where issues relating to Israel and Palestine have gained prominence. Central to this pattern is the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), a UK-based organisation advocating for Palestinian rights since 1982. PSC has gained considerable influence following the escalation of the Gaza conflict and reported a substantial increase in income—from about £700,000 in 2023 to £3.8 million in 2025—funded by a combination of small donations, trade unions, wills, and unspecified sources.

The organisation’s 2024 annual report outlines plans to intensify lobbying efforts targeting Members of Parliament and local officials, seeking to advance pro-Palestine policies ahead of the 2025 local elections. PSC has been credited with encouraging multiple councils to propose motions to divest from companies associated with Israel, claiming to have influenced 37 councils since mid-2024. This campaign includes petitions, town hall sit-ins, and direct engagement with councillors.

Critics raise concerns about PSC’s connections and funding transparency. A 2024 report by Lord Walney, a former independent government adviser on political violence, described PSC as “highly influential” within UK pro-Palestine movements but noted alleged historical sympathies with Hamas, a group proscribed by the UK government. While there is no suggestion of current links between PSC personnel and Hamas, the report questioned the source of some PSC funding, implying potential influence from foreign entities hostile to British interests.

PSC and its supporters dispute such characterisations. A Green Party source dismissed these criticisms as politically motivated, while a representative close to Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed ideological support for the PSC’s aims but declined to disclose any financial assistance. The Iranian embassy in London reportedly maintained contact with PSC-organised demonstrations and encouraged participation from UK-based Iranian communities.

PSC’s influence extends into local politics, with several Green Party councillors linked to the organisation. Kamel Hawwash, elected in Birmingham in 2026, previously served as a PSC director. In Lewisham, Green mayor Liam Shrivastava campaigned on a pro-Palestine platform and proposed twinning his borough with a Palestinian area. In Hackney, Mayor Garbett faced backlash for requesting a response from Haifa's mayor regarding de-twinning plans timed to coincide with a significant date for Hamas, later apologising for the oversight.

Opposition to PSC’s activism exists within local government. Labour councillor Michael Desmond lamented the prioritisation of international issues over local concerns, such as community infrastructure problems. He also criticised PSC’s approach during election campaigns, particularly their “Councillor Pledge for Palestine,” which calls on candidates to oppose complicity in Israel’s actions through divestment efforts. Desmond urged a more consensus-driven approach, concerned that heightened tensions over foreign conflicts risked undermining local political cohesion.

Councils across the UK have adopted motions to divest pension funds from companies linked to Israeli settlements or military activity, including Wakefield, Cardiff, and Cumberland. These decisions have drawn mixed reactions, with some local politicians warning of financial consequences for taxpayers and arguing for focus on domestic issues.

PSC describes its campaigns as democratic and inclusive, emphasising opposition to all forms of racism, including antisemitism and Islamophobia, and calling on elected representatives to reflect public opinion by ending support for Israel’s military actions. Its leadership includes volunteers and activists, among them British-Palestinian director Aimee Shalan and secretary Ben Soffa, who identifies as a Jewish human rights campaigner.

The increased prominence of the Gaza conflict within UK local politics illustrates how international issues have become deeply entwined with local governance, reflecting broader societal divisions and prompting calls for balance between global advocacy and constituency priorities.