1 City Council Meeting: May 14, 2024 Santa Monica, California RESOLUTION NUMBER _________ (CCS)
(City Council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
SUPPORTING THE RESUMPTION OF A NEGOTIATED BILATERAL CEASEFIRE IN GAZA AND REITERATING ITS CONDEMNATION OF ALL ANTI-SEMITISM, ANTIARAB RACISM, ISLAMOPHOBIA, AND ALL FORMS OF HATE AND INCITEMENT TO
VIOLENCE
WHEREAS, the horrific slaughter of Israeli civilians perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, 2023, was the largest mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust, and 240 Israeli civilians were taken as hostages; and
WHEREAS, in response, the ongoing war in Gaza has exacted a catastrophic toll of tens of thousands of civilian Palestinian deaths – including children, medical workers, and journalists; and
WHEREAS, Gaza’s widespread destruction has created an urgent humanitarian crisis that must end; and
WHEREAS, further shedding of blood in Gaza and the infliction of more pain and anguish will not bring peace and security to either Palestinians or Israelis, and cycles of violence and retribution in Israel and the Palestinian territories for the better part of a century cannot be broken with more of the same; and
WHEREAS, we support those forces in Israel and in Palestine that seek a different future for themselves—a democratic future where Israelis and Palestinians both can live in dignity and with self-determination and security for all; and WHEREAS, more than 100 U.S. cities have called for a ceasefire, and President Biden and Vice President Harris are actively working towards a negotiated ceasefire. 2 NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City of Santa Monica supports the resumption of a negotiated bilateral ceasefire, which must include humanitarian aid for the immediate provision of desperately needed food, water, medical care, clothing and emergency shelter to Palestinians, the end of Hamas’s rule in Gaza, due process for all prisoners, and the immediate release of the remaining 132 Israeli hostages taken by Hamas.
SECTION 2. The City of Santa Monica is appalled by the acts of violence, vandalism and intimidation against the Palestinian and Jewish diaspora in the United States, and reiterates its condemnation of all antisemitism, anti-Arab racism, Islamophobia, and all forms of hate and incitement to violence.
SECTION 3. A copy of this Resolution be sent to the offices of U.S. Representative Ted Lieu, U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler, and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla.
SECTION 4. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution, and thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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Doug Sloan, City Attorney