Sheffield City Council is expected to formally recognize Palestine as a sovereign state as a “symbolic gesture” this week.

The Labour-dominated local authority will debate a motion on Wednesday, proposed by Council leader Julie Dore, and seconded by Cllr Adam Hurst, calling for the recognition of the rights of Palestinians to their own state.

The motion claims recognition of Palestine would be “one step towards a genuine two-state solution” to the conflict.

“There has to be a right of the Palestinian people to live in peace and security as well as the right of Israel,” it states.

The motion follows a petition by Sheffield Labour Friends of Palestine, presented to the council in July.

A flag raising event will be held outside the Town Hall at 1 pm, and if passed, a copy of the motion would be sent to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn for comment.

Cllr Neale Gibson, who helped draft the motion and fully backs it, expects Britain’s chief Palestinian diplomat Husam Zomlot to be in the chamber while the motion is being debated.

The councillor told JN he expects the motion to be passed. “No one’s raised any objections to it. The Labour group has the majority in the chamber, so when the Labour group puts forward a motion it’s supported by all members of the group,” he said.

“We recognise the sovereignty and we’re not here to dictate the borders. That’s up to the people of Palestine and Israel to decide in between themselves. We’re supporting them to make their own decisions,” he added.