A British local council has voted to boycott products made in Jewish squatter colonies in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian West Bank, one of the first such moves by an elected body in the UK.

The boycott resolution, adopted by Leicester City Council on 14 November, cited Israel’s continued breach of international law, the Geneva Conventions, UN resolutions and its occupation of Palestinian territories, Friends of Al-Aqsa, a UK-based non-profit-making body, reported.

“Leicester is a city renowned for its tolerance, diversity, unity and its strong stance against all forms of discrimination,” said the text of the motion.

The move was welcomed by pro-Palestinian groups, including Leicester-based Friends of Al Aqsa (FOA), which called it a “step in the right direction”.

“Israel has been dehumanising Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip for decades while profiting from their resources and labour,” said the FOA’s chairman, Ismail Patel.

“I hope other councils and organisations in the country will follow Leicester’s example and say no to the continued oppression of Palestinians,” he added.