Mayor Zoe Garbett of Hackney Council is facing intense criticism after setting October 7 as the response deadline for the city of Haifa to address the termination of their twinning agreement.. the date coincides with the anniversary of the Hamas terrorist attacks, though Hackney Council later apologized and moved the deadline to October 5.
The October 7 deadline that sparked outrage
The controversy began when Mayor Zoe Garbett wrote to Mayor Yona Yahav of Haifa, Israel, informing him that Hackney Council had agreed in principle to end their municipal ties. According to the report, the original letter invited the Haifa administration to share its views by October 7, a date marking the anniversary of the Hamas massacre that resulted in over 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages.
The choice of date was immediately condemned as provocative by community leaders. Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, described the selection as "appalling," questioning whether the date was a deliberate choice or a result of "staggering insensitivity." Following the backlash, Hackney Council issued an apology, claiming the date was an error and subsequently shifting the deadline to October 5 .
Zoe Garbett's citation of UN genocide reports
In her formal correspondence, Mayor Zoe Garbett justified the move by stating that the relationship with Haifa no longer aliigns with the "strategic priorities" of the Hackney Council. As reported by the source, Garbett explicitly linked the decision to the ongoing humanitarian crisis and findings from UN Commission of Inquiry Reports which concluded that Israel has committed genocide.
Mayor Zoe Garbett argued that maintaining a civic connection with an Israeli city is incompatible with the Green Party's "anti-racist values." By seeking to "conclude this chapter" of civic history, the Hackney Council administration claims it is prioritizing ethical partnerships that champion peace and human rights over legacy agreements.
A civic bond with Haifa dating back to 1968
The partnership between Hackney and Haifa has existed for nearly 60 years, having been established in 1968. This move is part of a broader, contentious trend of "detwinning" seen in various European and UK municipalities as political tensions rise over the conflict in Gaza and the West Bank.
The decision is particularly poignant given that Haifa is widely regarded as a model for Arab-Jewish coexistence. By severing ties with a city known for its diversity and progressive approach to ethnic integration, the Hackney Council's move suggests a shift toward a more binary geopolitical stance that prioritizes national-level criticism over city-to-city diplomacy.
Calls for Zoe Garbett's resignation from community leaders
The fallout has extended beyond the diplomatic sphere, with several figures calling for the Mayor's immediate departure. Nivi Feldman, former head of the UK Hostages and Missing Families Forum, urged Mayor Zoe Garbett to resign, stating that the council chose "division over dialogue" during a time of rising antisemitism in the UK.
Other critical questions remain regarding the internal vetting process at Hackney Council. Martin Sugarman, chair of the Hackney Anglo Israel Friendship Association, noted that if the date was an error, it is "staggering" that no one in the administration recognized its significance. It remains unclear who specifically drafted the letter or why the October 7 date was initially approved before the public outcry forced a correction.
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