Tower Hamlets Council is expected to overwhelmingly approve a motion at full council to divest from companies complicit in Israel’s genocide and illegal occupation of Palestine.
The motion, introduced by Cllr Jonathan Purcell on behalf of the Green Group, will mean that going forward, Tower Hamlets Council will avoid procuring contracts and investing pension funds in companies that operate in illegally occupied territory and arms companies that supply weaponry to Israel to be used in its genocide against Palestinians.
The motion builds on a previous motion passed in January 2025, which was limited only to arms companies. The new motion is not only far more expansive in its scope, but it also introduces accountability measures to ensure that the intentions of the initial motion are implemented.
If passed, Tower Hamlets Council will instruct the London Central Investment Vehicle (CIV) to divest its funds from complicit investments. The London CIV is a London-wide body that manages Local Government Pension Scheme (‘LGPS’) assets.
Prior to the vote, a mass lobby is also being held outside Tower Hamlets Town Hall, in support of the motion. The lobby was organised by local branches of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, UNISON, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and Stop the War Coalition.
Jonathan Purcell, Deputy Leader for Tower Hamlets Green Group said:
“Tower Hamlets is a beacon of pro-Palestinian solidarity, and it is crucial that councils across London come together to put pressure on London CIV to divest from companies complicit in genocide.
We are unequivocal and uncompromising in our opposition to Israel’s genocide, illegal settlements and the ongoing Nakba. Free Palestine.”
