The City of Bell, California passed a CEASEFIRE resolution on March 27, 2024

RESOLUTION NO. 2024-11

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELL AFFIRMING SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY WITH THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE OF GAZA AND CALLING FOR AN IMMEDIATE DE-ESCALATION AND PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IN ISRAEL AND OCCUPIED PALESTINE

WHEREAS, the City of Bell ("City") mourns the loss of all civilian lives lost from October 7th to the present and also throughout the decades of displacement, occupation, oppression, and blockade endured in Gaza and the West Bank; and

WHEREAS, 1,200 Israelis were killed by Hamas on October 7th and nearly 32,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed by the state of Israel, along with nearly 70,000 Palestinians injured, in this escalated conflict; and

WHEREAS, the City stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people of Gaza, who are currently facing collective punishment by the state of Israel; and

WHEREAS, collective punishment is considered a war crime under international law, and refers to a form of sanction imposed on persons or a group of persons in response to a crime committed by one of them or a member of the group; and

WHEREAS, the state of Israel is engaging in collective punishment against the Palestinian people in Gaza in response to Hamas attacks on Israel; and

WHEREAS, this collective punishment of the Palestinian people includes shutting off all access to electricity, drinking water, food, and humanitarian aid; and

WHEREAS, the Gaza Strip, one of the most densely populated places on Earth, has been repeatedly referred to by human rights groups as "the world's largest open-air prison" even prior to this conflict; and

WHEREAS, Gaza is known as "the world's largest open-air prison" due to ongoing, unbearable living conditions imposed by the state of Israel, including a full air, land and sea blockade, enclosure of its borders by concrete walls and barbed wire fences, and the strict prohibition of Palestinians from leaving and entering the territory freely; and

WHEREAS, this blockade on Gaza has caused a nearly 57% unemployment rate, 41% of Palestinians have too little food, 60% of Palestinian children are anemic, and the Gazan population cannot count on more than 2-4 hours of continuous electrical power a day; and

WHEREAS, prior to this current water shortage, only 1% of Gaza population has access to safe drinking water, leaving Gaza's population - half of whom are children - increasingly vulnerable to waterborne diseases, infections, and dehydration; and

WHEREAS, over 200,000 people, mostly children, are experiencing catastrophic levels of hunger, a category that now includes more than a quarter of the Gazan population; and

WHEREAS, more than 2.2 million Gazan people are unable to meet their daily food needs and their lives are at imminent risk if a cease-fire is not achieved and humanitarian aid is not delivered without delay.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELL DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AND DETERMINE AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. That the City of Bell takes seriously the entreaty of "Never Again," and that the historical memory of the Holocaust means fighting ethnic cleansing and apartheid everywhere.

SECTION 2. That the City of Bell vows to combat antisemitism and ethno-nationalism in all its forms.

SECTION 3. That the City of Bell calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the safe passage of substantial humanitarian aid to Gaza.

SECTION 4. That the City of Bell calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the safe passage of substantial humanitarian aid to Gaza.

SECTION 5. That the City of Bell calls for the immediate release of all Israeli hostages taken by Hamas.

SECTION 6. That the City of Bell advocates for the dignity and safety of residents in every community, regardless of what crimes its leadership may commit, and that peaceful diplomacy is the only way to achieve this safety and dignity.

SECTION 7. The City of Bell supports the United States Government's ongoing efforts to bring a bilateral de escalation of hostiles and calls on our Federal Elected Officials to support negotiations that lead to a lasting ceasefire in Israel and Gaza, the release of all hostages, the safe passage of food, water, medical supplies and other lifesaving humanitarian aid.

SECTION 8. That the City of Bell endorses the Congressional Resolution submitted by Representatives Cori Bush (MO-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), André Carson (IN-07), Summer Lee (PA-12), and Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), alongside Representatives Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Jesús "Chuy" Garcia (IL-04), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07) and urges our Congressional Representative, Rep. Robert Garcia, and California's Congressional delegation to vote in support of the resolution.

SECTION 9. That the City Council directs the City Manager or designee to immediately distribute this Resolution upon its adoption to the offices of Senator Alex Padilla (CA), Representatives Robert Garcia (CA-42), Cori Bush (MO-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), André Carson (IN-07), Summer Lee (PA-12), and Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), alongside Representatives Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Jesús "Chuy" Garcia (IL-04), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ihan Omar (MN- 05), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07).

SECTION 10. This Resolution shall take effect from and after the date of its passage and adoption.

PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 27h day of March 2024.