Amherst, Massachusetts passed a CEASEFIRE resolution on March 5, 2023

RESOLUTION FOR A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA

Community Sponsors: 233 Amherst residents ; Councilor Sponsor: Patricia De Angelis

Whereas, on October 16th, 2023, the Amherst Town Council gave unanimous support to a resolution condemning the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel that took nearly 1200 lives; and

Whereas, since October 7th, 2023, the Israeli government’s siege of Gaza has killed more than 27,500 Palestinians, most of them civilians, nearly half of them children; and

Whereas, more than 1.9 million residents of Gaza have been forced to leave their homes, many of them displaced multiple times; and

Whereas, humanitarian aid into Gaza has been blocked, threatening more than half a million people with death from starvation and disease; and

Whereas, during the temporary ceasefire in November 2023, 110 Israeli and international hostages and 240 Palestinian prisoners were released, since then, no further hostages or prisoners have been freed and more than twenty-five have died; and

Whereas, since October 7th, 2023, the United States government has pledged an additional $14 billion of unconditional military aid to the Israeli government and sent $250 million without Congressional approval; and

Whereas, the United States was the only nation to veto the U.N. Security Council call for a ceasefire; and

Whereas, the conflict is rapidly spreading to the West Bank, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and beyond; and

Whereas, the climate of fear, anger, and disinformation in the U.S.—and Amherst has been no exception—has led to an escalation of threats, hate speech, and hate crimes against Jewish, Palestinian, Muslim, and Arab Americans.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we, the Amherst Town Council, call for an immediate and sustained ceasefire in Gaza, an end to the Israeli military siege of the Gaza Strip, the release of the hostages and detainees on both sides, the removal of obstacles to urgently needed humanitarian aid entering Gaza, and an end to unconditional U.S. military aid to the Israeli government.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we extend our support to all the broken-hearted and vulnerable members of our Amherst community who are directly affected by this ongoing crisis, reaffirm our commitment to the safety of all members of our community, and pledge to join with others seeking just and peaceful solutions.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the Amherst Town Council shall cause a copy of this Resolution to be sent to President Joseph Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Edward Markey, and Representative Jim McGovern.