RESOLUTION NO.
PROCLAMATION AFFIRMING THE CITY OF COTATI’S SUPPORT FOR AN
ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CEASEFIRE AND PERMANENT RESOLUTION TO THE
CONFLICT
WHEREAS, since the founding of the United Nations (UN) following World War II, the UN has issued numerous resolutions and worked towards the vision of the two-State solution where two democratic States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders, consistent with international law and relevant UN resolutions, including the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip (Gaza) with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority; and
WHEREAS, in March 2023, the Israeli government lifted the ban on Israeli settlements in previously evacuated areas in the northern West Bank area, further complicating the UN goal of a contiguous, independent Palestinian state and deepening the on-going conflict1 and WHEREAS, the latest round in the long history of violence between Israel and the Palestinians began on October 7, 2023 with the incursion of Palestinian armed groups into Israel at multiple locations adjacent to Gaza, resulting in the deaths of Israelis and the taking of hostages, many of which are still being held by armed Palestinian groups; and WHEREAS, in response, Israel initiated a large scale and on-going military incursion into Gaza, with the initial stated aims of rescuing the hostages and destroying Hamas; and WHEREAS, on October 16, 2023, House Resolution (HR) 786 was introduced in the United States House of Representatives calling for the “…Biden administration to immediately call for and facilitate deescalation and a cease-fire to urgently end the current violence…” and “…promptly send and facilitate the entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza.”; and WHEREAS, since October 7, 2023, the UN Security Council has issued two resolutions on this conflict:
1. Resolution 2712 (November 15, 2023) demanding that all parties comply with their obligations under international law with regard to the protection of civilians, especially children; calling for extended humanitarian pauses in the violence for humanitarian aid; and calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups, especially children;
1 https://www.voanews.com/a/jewish-settlers-erect-religious-school-in-evacuated-west-bankoutpost-after-israel-repeals-ban/7113399.html
2. Resolution 2720 (December 22, 2023) demanding that all parties to the conflict comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, including with regard to the conduct of hostilities and the protection of civilians and civilian objects, humanitarian access, and the protection of humanitarian personnel and their freedom of movement; demanding that all parties to the conflict allow, facilitate and enable the immediate, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance at scale directly to the Palestinian civilian population throughout Gaza, and immediately allow safe, unhindered, and expanded humanitarian access and to create the conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities; demanding that the parties to the conflict allow and facilitate the use of all available routes to and throughout the entire Gaza, including border crossings for the provision of humanitarian assistance; demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, as well as ensuring humanitarian access to address medical needs of all hostages; demanding the provision of fuel to Gaza at levels that will meet requisite humanitarian needs;
WHEREAS, on December 12, 2023, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in an emergency session demanding an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire”, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages as well as “ensuring humanitarian access”; and WHEREAS, Israel and Palestinian armed groups agreed to a temporary truce from November 24-November 30, 2023 to allow 50 women, children and teenagers under the age of 19 taken hostage by Hamas to be freed in return for 150 Palestinian women and teenagers in Israeli detention, as well as an agreement to allow more emergency aid and fuel into Gaza; and WHEREAS, Between October 7 and January 2, 2024, armed violence has claimed the lives of approximately 22,000 Palestinians2 and over 1,200 Israelis3, and wounded thousands more; and according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, an estimated 1,900,000 Palestinians (85% of Gaza) has been internally displaced since October 7; and WHEREAS, hundreds of thousands of lives are at imminent risk of death, famine and life-threatening diseases in Gaza without a sustained ceasefire and unimpeded large scale humanitarian relief; and
WHEREAS, the sustained conflict, as well as the larger Israeli-Palestinian conflict, is creating a humanitarian catastrophe that is only deepening; and WHEREAS, in addition to the violence that we have seen in Israel and Gaza, Amnesty International has reported an escalation in violence in the West Bank; and WHEREAS, there are increasing concerns that the conflict in the West Bank will also spill over regionally, including increased attacks on civilian shipping in the Red Sea by armed 2 Ministry of Health, Gaza, includes combatants and non-combatants. 3 Israeli Media Sources, citing official sources, includes combatants, non-combatants and foreign nationals in Israel.
groups in Yemen and an increase in cross border attacks into Israel by armed groups in Lebanon; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Cotati finds that all loss of life and the human suffering that this conflict has caused is tragic and an immediate cessation of hostilities and a permanent solution to this crisis must be one of the top foreign policy priorities of the United States; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Cotati finds that all parties to this conflict must adhere to their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Cotati joins the United Nations, world leaders, religious leaders, and citizens of the world everywhere in calling for an immediate ceasefire and an end to all armed hostilities by all sides; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Cotati supports U.S. Congress Resolution HR 786 and joins other cities in calling on our Congressional Members to demand:
an immediate ceasefire; release of all hostages, the unrestricted entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza; the restoration of food, water, electricity, and medical supplies to Gaza; and respect for international law; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Cotati, consistent with long standing UN action, supports a solution where two democratic States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders, consistent with international law and relevant UN resolutions; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Cotati opposes any Israeli policy that continues the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank or Gaza, as this inflames tensions, continues the violence and pushes a two-state solution further out of reach; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a permanent solution to this crisis must be one of the top foreign policy priorities of the United States to reduce human suffering and promote peace in the region; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Cotati opposes all forms of antiSemitism, Islamophobia, racism, and bigotry and advocates for the dignity and safety of residents in every community; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to Sonoma County’s Supervisors, the Mayors and Council members of each of its incorporated cities, California State Assemblymembers, Representatives, and Governor, and United States’ Representatives, Senators, Vice President, and President urging them to take immediate action to use their position and influence to end this conflict and work towards a permanent peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED that the foregoing resolution was duly adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cotati held on January 9, 2024, by the following vote, to wit:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
Approved:___________________________
Mayor
Attest:______________________________
Kevin Patterson, Deputy City Clerk
Approved as to form:______________________________
City Attorney