From:
To: City Council
Subject: Remove Item 4 from the consent calendar
Date: Sunday, February 18, 2024 10:32:59 PM
Dear City Council.
I urge the City Council to reject this ceasefire resolution. Besides its obvious bias and political goals it will do nothing to save lives.
Let's remember there was a ceasefire on October 6. On October 7, thousands, not dozens, of lamas terrorists invaded Israel and committed one of the most heinous massacres in recer istory. I don't need to detail the acts of barbarism committed, but we should all remembe the glee and joy displayed in their own videos as they kidnapped, murdered, and raped innocent civilians.
Hamas is a fundamentalist, genocidal, antisemitic death cult that is not fighting for an end to occupation. Their self stated goal is the destruction of Israel. They insist that that the only way for victory is jihad and totally reject negotiations for coming to a peaceful solution. Their charter is chock full of antisemitic libels and callsi for genocide of the jews.
Hamas was founded in 1987 and their goal has always been to murder as many Israeli civilians as possible. Bombing buses, restaurants, religious gatherings, and youth discotheques are among their most celebrated accomplishments.
Since 2005, when Israel totally withdrew from Gaza, they have turned it into base for terror from which they have launched thousands of rockets, mortars, and kidnapping missions.
In the past, Israel has tried to limit Hamas's offensive capabilities with occasional incursions and a blockade, but through smuggling and stealing from their own people Hamas was still able to build a formidable military infrastructure beneath schools, hospitals, mosques, UNRWA offices, and civilian structures.
The brutal massacre Hamas carried out on October 7 showed that past measures would not work. The only way to defeat an enemy that won't negotiate or recognize your right to exist is to defeat them.
A ceasefire will allow Hamas to rearm and perpetuate this cycle of Hamas attacks and Israeli retaliations leading to even more civilian deaths on both sides.
If the council feels an urgent need to comment on the situation, why not pass a resolution calling for the surrender of Hamas and the immediate return of the Israeli hostages instead of a ceasefire. That would stop the war in an instant.
Mark P. Rudow, M.D.