Chicago, Illinois CEASEFIRE resolution passed on January 31, 2024

Resolution in support of “uniting for peace”

WHEREAS, Chapter I of the United Nations Charter states that the purpose of the United Nations is “to maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace;” and

WHEREAS, Chapter I of the United Nations Charter further states that the purpose of the United Nations is “to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace;” and

WHEREAS, the United Nations General Assembly shall act if the Security Council, "because of lack of unanimity of the permanent members, fails to exercise its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security in any case where there appears to be a threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression;” and

WHEREAS, the UN General Assembly convened an emergency meeting in which 153 out of 186 member nations voted in favor of adopting a resolution demanding “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in Gaza, the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages,” and “ensuring humanitarian access”; and

WHEREAS, more than 26,700 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in over 100 days since October 7, 2023, including over 10,000 children, and more than 65,600 Palestinians have been injured in the same period; and

WHEREAS, since October 7, 2023 over 1,200 Israelis have been killed and 240 Israeli hostages were taken by Hamas; and

WHEREAS, more than 85% of the population in Gaza, nearly 1.9 million people, have been displaced since the Israeli bombardments began on early October 7, 2023; and

WHEREAS, entire neighborhoods, infrastructure, hospitals, schools, and places of worship have been destroyed contributing to the erasure of Palestinian communities and culture; and

WHEREAS, a poll released by Data for Progress on December 5, 2023 states that 61% of all likely voters in the United States, and 76% of Democratic voters support a permanent ceasefire and de-escalation of violence in Gaza; and

WHEREAS, cities across the United States, including San Francisco, California; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Seattle, Washington; St Louis, Missouri; Detroit, Michigan; Atlanta, Georgia; Akron, Ohio; Wilmington, Delaware; Providence, Rhode Island; and Richmond, California have passed resolutions calling for ceasefire; and

WHEREAS, the Chicago Sun Times Editorial Board released a publication on December 13, 2023 titled “A cease-fire in Israel-Hamas war is a next step to ending the bloodshed,” which elaborates public favor for ceasefire and calls for our local elected officials to support ceasefire in line with public demands; and

WHEREAS, a lasting ceasefire is critical to the release of all hostages and building a foundation for a lasting peace; and

WHEREAS, the impacts of violence are particularly felt by our Palestinian and Jewish communities as the Chicagoland area is home to the largest Palestinian population in all of the United States and the 5th largest Jewish population in the world; therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the members of the Chicago City Council, support the United Nations implementation of "Uniting for Peace," which called an emergency session of the General Assembly which voted in favor of “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in Gaza; and

BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Chicago City Council, do hereby call for a permanent ceasefire to end the ongoing violence in Gaza; call for humanitarian assistance including medicine, food, and water, to be sent into the impacted region; and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages; and

BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the members of the Chicago City Council, call for the creation of plans to protect civilian populations in the region, in particular to support the needs of women, children, persons with disabilities, and the elderly; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that suitable copies of this resolution be sent to President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and the Illinois Congressional delegation.