CITY ATTORNEY
Sonia R. Carvalho
INTERIM CITY MANAGER
Tom Hatch
CITY CLERK
Jennifer L. Hall
20 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA - P.O. BOX 1988, M31 - SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA 92702 TELEPHONE (714) 647-6900 - FAX (714) 647-6954 - www.santa-ana.org Councilmember-Requested Item Report
DATE
March 5, 2024
TOPIC
Ceasefire Resolution
COUNCILMEMBER-REQUESTED ITEM TITLE
Santa Ana City Council to call in support of an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
DISCUSSION
In light of the recent humanitarian crisis in Gaza, this resolution calls for the City Council of Santa Ana to voice their humanitarian support for civilians in Gaza, where we have seen the death toll reach record numbers. On October 7, we witnessed an unprecedented attack from Hamas, killing over 1,200 Israeli citizens. Since then, Israel’s assault on Gaza has killed over 25,000 innocent Palestinian civilians, more than half of them children, and humanitarian aid is running low, including food, water, electricity, and medical supplies.
We want to voice our support for an immediate ceasefire resolution, where the state of Israel declares a permanent ceasefire over Gaza, letting Palestinian civilians grieve, mourn, and rebuild what they have lost over the past 121 days and counting.
International affairs impact families locally. California is home to over 29,000 people of Palestinian descent; Palestinian history is part of the fabric of our city. Alex Odeh, a Palestinian social justice activist, was assassinated in 1985 at his office in Santa Ana. The FBI classified the bombing as an act of domestic terrorism, yet over 30 years later, no justice has been served for his case. Mr. Odeh fought tirelessly to build inter-faith unity between Jews, Muslims, and Christians in Southern California.
The City of Santa Ana condemns the recent rise of anti-Arab, Islamophobic, Antisemitic, racist, homophobic, and xenophobic attacks in our city and across the nation. It will identify programs to combat hate, create healing spaces, and foster understanding.
As public servants and champions of public policy, we stand for liberation for all people and in solidarity with our Palestinian community. We are responsible for calling out all acts of injustice in all communities. We join four cities in Southern California, Cudahy, Long Beach, Pomona, and Montebello, calling for support for an immediate ceasefire.
SUBMITTED BY
Councilmember Benjamin Vazquez