Democratic Party of Hawaii resolution unanimously adopted December 2, 2023

Calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and initiation of negotiations for a lasting peace

Whereas, All human life is precious and the targeting of non-combatants in a conflict zone is a violation of Rule 1 of customary International Humanitarian Law;1

Whereas, Between October 7 and December 2, 2023, armed violence has claimed the lives of more than 13,000 Palestinians and some 1,200 Israelis, and wounded tens of thousands more, the vast majority of which are civilians;

Whereas, Hundreds of thousands of lives are at imminent risk if a permanent ceasefire is not achieved and humanitarian aid is not delivered without delay;

Whereas, Roughly half of the Palestinians killed or wounded during the violence in Gaza are children and International Humanitarian Law requires that all parties to an armed conflict protect children and prevent the commission of grave violations against them, including killing and maiming, attacks on schools and hospitals, recruitment and use of children, abduction of children, and denial of humanitarian access;2

Whereas, These children and their families face further imminent threats due to Israeli government restrictions on food, water, fuel, and other humanitarian assistance being able to reach them;

Whereas, The dismantling of Hamas, a recognized terrorist organization, cannot and should not be achieved at the expense of innocent lives; and

Whereas, The United States Federal Government holds immense diplomatic power to save both Palestinian and Israeli lives; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the State Central Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi calls on the members of the Hawaiʻi Congressional Delegation to support the Ceasefire Now Resolution introduced by Representative Cori Bush; and to insist that the Biden Administration call for an immediate, permanent ceasefire, to facilitate the de-escalation of hostilities to end the current violence, to promptly send and facilitate the entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, including fuel, food, water, medical supplies, and to begin negotiations for a lasting peace; and be it

Ordered, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the offices of the members of the Hawaiʻi Congressional Delegation, the U.S. House Minority Leader, President Joe Biden, as well as the chair of the Democratic National Committee.

1 International Committee of the Red Cross, “Rule 1, The Principle of Distinction between Civilians and Combatants,” ICRC Study on Customary International Humanitarian Law, Volume I (Rules), 2005, Cambridge University Press

2 International Committee of the Red Cross, “Rule 135, Children,” ICRC Study on Customary International Humanitarian Law, Volume I (Rules), 2005, Cambridge University Press

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Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 2, 2023

Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi Adopts Resolution Calling for a Permanent Ceasefire in Gaza

HONOLULU, Hawaiʻi — The State Central Committee (SCC) of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi adopted a resolution on Saturday, December 2, 2023, calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and initiation of negotiations for a lasting peace.

The resolution calls on the members of the Hawaiʻi Congressional Delegation to support the Ceasefire Now Resolution introduced by Representative Cori Bush at the national level. The resolution also calls on the delegation to insist that the Biden Administration call for an immediate, permanent ceasefire, to facilitate the de-escalation of hostilities to end the current violence, to promptly send and facilitate the entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, including fuel, food, water, medical supplies, and to begin negotiations for a lasting peace.

“This resolution serves as an acknowledgement that the pathway to peace cannot be illuminated by the awful glow of bombs bursting over Gaza,” said Will Caron, assistant secretary of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi and co-introducer of the resolution. “We must do everything we can to push our elected officials to exercise the United States’ immense influence over Israel, and bring the killing to an end. Only when the bombs stop dropping on Gaza can the pathway to peace begin to be uncovered and dug out of the rubble.”

The resolution was adopted unanimously by the members of the SCC, making the Hawaiʻi Democratic Party the second state party to adopt such a resolution after the Texas Democratic Party’s executive committee adopted a resolution earlier on the same day.

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