Christmas may be over, but for Jews celebrating the festival of Hanukkah festivities still are in full swing. Though the story of the Maccabees fighting their oppressors took place thousands of years ago, disputes over who should control swathes of land in Israel and Palestine are pressing and pertinent to this day.

Following last week’s United Nations Resolution 2334, which describes Israel’s settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as “illegal” and an obstacle to peace with the Palestinians, the Israeli government has made its position clear: settlements in the occupied territories will continue growing, and any states who criticise this are making a “declaration of war” against Israel. Ambassadors have been recalled; meetings with leaders have been cancelled; Israeli aid to Senegal has been stopped.

This latest resolution isn’t much of a development in the history of the region. Back in 1967, Resolution 242 was passed by the UN Security Council calling on Israel to withdraw its military from the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza Strip and Golan Heights. But after years of inaction from many of the world’s most powerful nations, the significance of this latest warning to Netanyahu’s government can’t be underestimated.

Remembering the Israel-Gaza conflict Show all 12 1 /12 Remembering the Israel-Gaza conflict Remembering the Israel-Gaza conflict Remembering Israel-Gaza conflict The fire in my heart is beyond my ribs. You left me beloved - Soliman Shaheen, 15 Remembering the Israel-Gaza conflict Remembering Israel-Gaza conflict Let me get enough of you, as I’m still hungry for your smile my son - Soliman Shaheen, 15 Remembering the Israel-Gaza conflict Remembering Israel-Gaza conflict They besiege me in my homeland so I flew to heaven - Rodaina Al Agha, 16 Remembering the Israel-Gaza conflict Remembering Israel-Gaza conflict And I am still facing the pain all by myself - Lama Shakshak, 15 Remembering the Israel-Gaza conflict Remembering Israel-Gaza conflict My brother, I watched you go while my heart was tearing - Helen Mo'amar, 16 Remembering the Israel-Gaza conflict Remembering Israel-Gaza conflict My new doll is lonely in the rubble - Ayah Sha'ath, 16 Remembering the Israel-Gaza conflict Remembering Israel-Gaza conflict When a soul hugs another soul they never split, even in death - Ismail Matar, 16 Remembering the Israel-Gaza conflict Remembering Israel-Gaza conflict Everyone is gone and I stayed alone to make the world witness the injustice done to me - Hamza Shaheen, 16 Remembering the Israel-Gaza conflict Remembering Israel-Gaza conflict The hand that carries the arms carries roses too - Madeeha Al Majayda, 15 Remembering the Israel-Gaza conflict Remembering Israel-Gaza conflict My eyes tell you about a dream that overcame the fence - Soliman Shaheen, 15 Remembering the Israel-Gaza conflict Remembering Israel-Gaza conflict A childhood caught in an unjust siege - Hadeel Quidh, 16 Remembering the Israel-Gaza conflict Remembering Israel-Gaza conflict All the details are torn after you - Hamza Shaheen, 17

This may be too little too late from Obama’s administration; had such a step been taken earlier on in his tenure such action might have felt more promising, a Trump presidency now being just a matter of weeks away. But even though this attempt by the UN is unlikely to bring the expansion of Israeli occupations to a halt, active supporters of Israel living around the world must take note – my fellow Jews included.

A 2015 poll of British Jews found three quarters agreed with the statement that “the expansion of settlements on the West Bank is a major obstacle to peace”, while 58 per cent said Israel “will be seen as an apartheid state if it tries to retain control over borders that contain more Arabs than Jews”.

In short, the vast majority of Jews living in Britain simply don’t support the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. Yet Jewish organisations such as the Board of Deputies remain silent on the matter.

Under Netanyahu’s administration, this silence is being harnessed as support for Israel’s actions and used to justify an occupation and expansion of settlements that is breaking international law. Netanyahu is confidently asserting that diaspora Jewry “want to be part of Israel’s success story”, giddily encouraging us to move there. The occupation continues in our name.

Jews and Muslims dance as they celebrate Hanukkah together in Bahrain

Whatever your views on the solution for the region, it’s now more evident than ever that the occupation of the Palestinian territories must come to an end.

It’s easy for Arab nations’ concerns to be dismissed by a right-wing Israeli government, but actions of long-standing allies like Britain and the US cannot be brushed off. The voices of the Jewish diaspora must now join in this growing crescendo calling for the occupation to end.

Tonight, when Jews of all faiths and affiliations light the Hanukkah candles, consider the story we remember afresh. In the very same land in which Netanyahu now rules as leader, our ancestors once lived, forced into hiding as an expansionist power actively and cruelly set out to replace a nation’s way of life. As we say the ritualistic prayers we’ll also be celebrating the oppressed and their uprising. It’s a message we must stand by today.