After a testing debate tonight, Wollongong City Council voted not to support a motion where Council would fly the flag of Palestine in support of the people of Gaza currently under siege.

After the councillors' vote was deadlocked at 6-all, it was the casting vote of Lord Mayor Tania Brown which saw the motion defeated.

Instead, Council has decided to encourage local members of the Palestine community "to apply to fly their flag, on or after the day the Australian government recognises the State of Palestine at the United Nations".

It was a notice of motion from Greens Councillor Kit Docker that brought on the debate under the headline: "Commemorating the loss of human life in Palestine and reaffirming our city's commitment to human rights."

He called on Council to "mourn the devastating loss of over 60,000 Palestinian lives in Gaza since October 2023, including tens of thousands of women and children, humanitarian aid workers and journalists in the current war..." 

Cr Docker suggested Council should fly the Palestinian flag outside the council chambers as a show of solidarity for the people of Gaza, just as the Council did to support the people of Ukraine and Lebanon in the past.

Citizen of the Year speaks of her Gaza experience

Addressing the Council before the motion was debated, 2023's Wollongong Citizen of the Year, Sally Stevenson, recounted her experience while working in Gaza almost 12 months ago on a humanitarian mission with Médecins Sans Frontières.

Sally said she had seen on her phone before traveling to Gaza "the genocide being live streamed – the bombing, the shelling, the destruction of homes, water sources and agricultural land.

"The livestreaming could not convey the absolute totality of death and destruction you could see, hear and smell, that you breathed in with every breath, every day… Everywhere, the dust of destruction. A horror without end.

"All of this is to say, it was worse than you could imagine. Since then, almost beyond comprehension, the Israeli assault on humanity has continued to become more apocalyptic, as the world watches on. Conservatively speaking, the IDF has killed over 60,000 Palestinians in Gaza, with the Lancet estimating the real number to be as high as 300,000. That’s the population of the Illawarra. Gone, having suffered unimaginable pain, trauma and now, a carefully orchestrated Israeli made famine – executed with absolute impunity. This is a sadistic obscenity. 

"And it is highly probable the worst of this dystopian horror is yet to come. That’s what the Israeli Government has said, they will wipe Gaza out. And we have every reason to believe them."

'You are either for or against genocide'

Sally urged the councillors to support Cr Docker's motion.

"This is the moral story of our time. This is what we will be asked about by our children and our grandchildren. What did you do?

"Whilst situations and contexts can be complex, principles are not. You are either for or against genocide.

"You either are for upholding international law or you are not. You are either on the side of humanity or you are not.

"Everyone has a role to play.  We must act now – because soon it will be too late.  And there will be no going back if you remained silent."

The former citizen of the year said Wollongong Council had a chance to add its voice to others around the world who were calling out the inhumane actions of the Israeli government.

Looking for 'the strength of our leaders'

"I believe it is now time for you, our Council to act, in line with Wollongong's proud record of supporting peace movements over many decades. The people of Wollongong are tonight hoping to see the strength of our leaders. 

"Just as this Council is doing what it can to respond to the global climate change crisis, just as it raised the Ukrainian flag in solidarity... with this motion you can send a clear and confident message of support for the Palestinian children, women and men who enduring war crime after war crime after war crime, and to the Palestinian community in Wollongong who have family and friends in Gaza. 

"You can say to them, we are here to support you. Raising the Palestinian flag is an important symbolic action that says just this.

"The evidence of genocide is not disputable. The impact is undeniable. Now is the time.

"Please remember the universal and time-tested quote – the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing. Silence and inaction is complicity. This motion is a matter of principle. Of humanity. Of being on the right side of history."

The deadliest place on Earth to raise a child

Cr Docker said "the situation in Gaza has deteriorated beyond belief".

"UNICEF has declared Gaza the deadliest place on Earth to raise a child. Almost every hospital has been damaged or destroyed. Starvation is now being used as a weapon of war with over a million people, half of them children in famine," Cr Docker said.

"It's vital we send a clear message to people in our community... Wollongong's commitment to humanity, justice and peace."

Councillor Dan Hayes said "it's despicable what is happening to the Palestinian people" but spoke against the motion.

He asked: "What does the motion say to members of our Jewish community?"

Cr Hayes moved an amendment that Wollongong demonstrate that it is a city of peace by flying the United Nations flag on United Nations Day next month. He also said it should be for the Palestine community to request the flying of their flag to celebrate Australia's recognition of Palestine's statehood.

A sense of helplessness

Cr Ann Martin said she "salutes and commiserates the loss of life in Gaza" but she said it was important to also recognise the loss of life in Israel too.

"I think there's a sense of helplessness but as a city we have a proud history to stand with those who've been oppressed. Is flying the Palestine flag enough of a symbol of support?"

Sr Deidre Stuart supported Cr Docker's motion, saying: "Gaza is devastated and its people are devastated. This is genocide."

Speaking against the motion, Cr David Brown said this was the third occasion Council had debated the situation in Gaza.

"You can only go to that well so many times before you lose the confidence of the community," Cr Brown said.

He said he stood by a motion passed by Council in 2023 and "I don't think Council should be providing a running commentary on the conflict."

A city of peace

Lord Mayor Cr Tania Brown said: "Wollongong is a city of peace."

But she didn't support the original motion, saying "as a city council we have a responsibility to represent people in our community from all faiths and backgrounds". She didn't think Wollongong Council should be favouring one group over another.

The Lord Mayor said: "We stand with compassion and empathy and are horrified at what's taking place."

With the Lord Mayor's casting vote, Cr Docker's motion was defeated. He expressed disappointment that Council was "hiding behind a previous motion. Our Council is better than that," he said.

Speaking after the meeting, Sally Stevenson said: "It was predictably disappointing from our Labor-dominated Council that they didn't recognise that this is a genocide, and they decided instead to play politics by putting forward a motion that had not been shared with other councillors. 

"From its decision tonight Council missed its opportunity to support the people of Palestine and the local Palestinian community, instead putting the the onus on people who are already traumatised to apply to have their flag flown at an appropriate time."

She questioned if this same methodology was used when Council agreed to fly the flag of Ukraine after the attack by Russia.