Seattle, Washington CEASEFIRE resolution passed on November 21, 2023

A RESOLUTION supporting a long-term ceasefire in Israel and occupied Palestine, the return of all hostages, and the delivery of humanitarian aid; and affirming opposition to Antisemitism and Islamophobia.

WHEREAS, all human life is precious, and the targeting of civilians, no matter their faith or ethnicity, is a violation of international humanitarian law; and

WHEREAS, between October 7 and November 21, 2023, armed violence has claimed the lives of over 14,000 Palestinians (nearly half of whom are children) and over 1,200 Israelis. The death toll has included Americans, and tens of thousands more have been wounded; and

WHEREAS, as of November 1, the Israeli military admitted to having dropped 10,000 bombs on Gaza, which averages 72 bombs for every square mile of Gaza, whose entire area is smaller than the size of Seattle, and with The Wall Street Journal reporting at least 45 percent of housing units being destroyed or damaged; and

WHEREAS, hundreds of thousands of lives are at imminent risk without an immediate long-term ceasefire, restoration of basic necessities, and delivery of adequate humanitarian aid without delay to the Palestinian people; and

WHEREAS, the United States government and our elected leaders hold immense diplomatic power to save Israeli and Palestinian lives; and

WHEREAS, the majority of the world and the majority of Americans support an immediate long-term ceasefire in Israel and occupied Palestine, and millions of people worldwide including thousands of people in Seattle have joined in peaceful protests since October 7 to amplify this call; and

WHEREAS, the City Council of The City of Seattle has the ability to influence Washington State’s federal delegation to call for an immediate long-term ceasefire to stop the violence, the safe return of all hostages, and the delivery of adequate humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people without delay in order to prevent the loss of hundreds of thousands more lives; and

WHEREAS, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Palestinian/anti-Arab bigotry have risen significantly in Seattle, across the United States, and around the world in the past six weeks, with direct impacts on our local communities – from synagogues and mosques to schools, homes, offices, and places where communities gather, as well as at protests and rallies; and

WHEREAS, all of these forms of bigotry, violence, and oppression serve to divide our communities and weaken our efforts to achieve collective safety, justice, and true multi- ethnic, multi-racial democracy here and everywhere; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE THAT:

Section 1. The Seattle City Council condemns violations of international law, including both the attack on October 7, 2023 by Hamas, and the Israeli military’s response on the 2.3 million Palestinian people living in Gaza (nearly half of whom are children) since then.

Section 2. The Seattle City Council requests the Office of Intergovernmental Relations to convey to Seattle’s Congressional delegation its support for an immediate long-term ceasefire, the return of all hostages, and delivery of adequate humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people.

Section 3. The Seattle City Council affirms its commitment to combat Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Palestinian/anti-Arab bigotry, its support for the people of both Israel and Palestine to live in peace and security, and the right of all people to live, learn, work, play, pray, and engage in peaceful protest, all without threats, intimidation, or death.