Glenwood Springs, Colorado CEASEFIRE resolution passed February 15, 2024

*This resolution was brought to the Glenwood Springs City Council by members of a group called Ceasefire Now Roaring Fork Valley. It is based off of a template drafted by

Colorado Palestine Coalition. The template for this draft resolution can be found here.

RESOLUTION CALLING FOR AN IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IN GAZA AND OCCUPIED WEST BANK, IMMEDIATE, UNHINDERED HUMANITARIAN AID  INTO GAZA, AND RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES AND ARBITRARILY DETAINED PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS 

WHEREAS, the city of [NAME OF CITY] recognizes that all lives are precious, that Palestinian lives and Israeli lives have the same value, that innocent civilians should never be collateral damage, and that the targeting of civilians, no matter their faith or ethnicity, is a violation of international humanitarian law; and 

WHEREAS, on October 7th, an estimated 1200 Israeli civilians were killed and 250 people were taken hostage, and since October 7th, over 28,500 Palestinians in Gaza, including 12,300 children and 8,400 women, have been killed and over 72,200 Palestinians have been injured, with at least [4,400] children still trapped under rubble, [10,022] children left without fathers, and [8,352] children left without mothers [update numbers as applicable]; and 

WHEREAS, civilian infrastructure must be protected in accordance with international law and based on the same standards that all countries are bound to comply with, according to the Geneva Convention, however, Israeli airstrikes have led to the widespread damage and destruction of approximately 70% of civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including 360,000 housing units, 395 educational facilities, [266] mosques, one of the world’s oldest churches, 150 health facilities, [123] ambulances, [53] health care centers, [30] hospitals [update numbers as applicable]; and 

WHEREAS, the destruction of civilian infrastructure has led to the internal displacement of over [1,930,000] Palestinians within the Gaza Strip [update numbers as applicable]; and

WHEREAS, ethnic cleansing refers to the creation of an ethnically homogenous geographic area through the elimination of unwanted ethnic groups by deportation, forcible displacement, or genocide; Israel has and continues to engage in an ethnic cleansing campaign by explicitly requiring nearly two million Palestinians to leave their homes in Gaza or risk being killed by the IDF’s indiscriminate bombing campaigns; Israel has bombed even in areas they had already designated as “safe” in addition to evacuation routes; and

WHEREAS, millions of lives in Gaza are at imminent risk due to displacement, starvation, malnutrition, lack of clean drinking water, diseases, infections, exposure to the elements, and lack of medical care, in addition to continued attacks from the Israeli military if a permanent ceasefire is not immediately enacted by our lawmakers and humanitarian aid is not delivered without delay; and

WHEREAS, Israel’s military attack on Gaza has deliberately targeted journalists, health workers, and United Nations Staff, with [103] journalists, [122] medical professionals, and [135] UNRWA workers killed, leading to the deadliest period for journalists in 30 years, the worst ever total number of attacks on healthcare facilities and their personnel, and the largest loss of life for United Nations Staff in the history of the organization [update numbers as applicable]; and 

WHEREAS, a rise in settler violence and  Israeli Defense Force (IDF) attacks in the West Bank have simultaneously occurred with [439] reported settler attacks against Palestinians and over [350] Palestinians killed, [4,300] injured, and [1,257] displaced in the West Bank since October 7th [update numbers as applicable]; and

WHEREAS, there has been a dramatic rise in the number of Palestinians arbitrarily arrested and detained by the IDF, with [5,930] Palestinians detained since October 7th for a total of [8,800] Palestinian detainees, including [355] children and [190] women, too often held without charge or trial, [update numbers as applicable]; and 

WHEREAS, collective punishment goes against International law and rules of warfare as defined within the Geneva Convention, and Israel’s repeated international violations and war crimes of collective punishment have created a dire humanitarian crisis for over 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza; and

WHEREAS, the city of [NAME OF CITY] recognizes that the current crisis takes place within a long history of occupation and apartheid and affirms that, for a pathway to lasting peace and justice to be developed, the root causes of the crisis need to be addressed; and

WHEREAS, international organizations, including but not limited to, Amnesty International, the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the International Rescue Committee, and many others have made a call for a permanent ceasefire in order to prevent the further loss of innocent civilian lives and to be in accordance with international humanitarian law; and 

WHEREAS, to date [63] members of Congress have called for a ceasefire or cessation of hostilities in Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories [update numbers as applicable]; and 

WHEREAS, sixty-one percent of American voters support a permanent ceasefire and de-escalation of violence in Gaza, according to a December 5th 2023 Data For Progress Poll, and millions of people worldwide, including thousands of people all over the state of [NAME OF STATE], have joined in peaceful protests since October 7th to amplify this call; and

WHEREAS, at least [49] cities and counting across the United States, including Oakland, San Francisco, Seattle, Detroit, Atlanta, Richmond, Iowa City and Dearborn among others have approved or are actively considering statements calling for a lasting ceasefire; [Update number above as more cities continue to pass resolutions] and 

WHEREAS, many members of our [NAME OF CITY] community have family and friends who live in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank, and have deep connections in the region, including many who have lost loved ones there and would not want the importance of their deaths to be diminished, or be considered acceptable or justifiable by Israel’s claims of self-defense; and

WHEREAS, Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab bigotry, and antisemitism have risen significantly in [NAME OF CITY], across the United States, and around the world since October 7th, with direct impacts on our local communities, from mosques and synagogues to schools, homes, offices, and places where communities gather as well as at protests and rallies; and 

WHEREAS, all of these forms of bigotry, violence, and oppression serve to divide our communities and weaken our efforts to achieve collective safety, justice, and true multi-ethnic, multi-racial democracy here and everywhere; and

WHEREAS, the enormous and unconditional military aid provided to Israel by the United States every year ultimately deprives Americans of money for their own urgent local needs, with [NAME OF CITY] residents’ federal taxes contributing [$ amount] to Israel's weapons, which could instead fund, for example, [#] households with public housing for a year, [#] children receiving free or low-cost healthcare, [#] elementary school teachers, or cancel loan debt for [#] students [Find exact numbers for your city at this link, under “US Military Funding to Israel Map”]; and,

WHEREAS, the Federal government holds immense diplomatic power to save Palestinian and Israeli lives, and local governments play a role in our democracy to urge needed legislative and policy changes at all levels; now, therefore, be it 

RESOLVED, that an immediate and permanent ceasefire be enacted by all involved parties in order to prevent further loss of life. This permanent ceasefire must include Gaza and other areas of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and a stop to Israeli military and settler violence; and, be it 

FURTHER RESOLVED,  that the immediate and permanent ceasefire allow for a humanitarian corridor to be immediately opened at the Erez Crossing in the North of the Gaza Strip and the Kerem Shalom Border Crossing coming from Egypt, for the unrestricted provision of goods to civilians throughout Gaza which are indispensable to their survival as required as a basic human right by international humanitarian law, and that there be unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid, including but not limited to basic supplies for survival such as clean water, food, fuel, clothes, hygiene, sanitary supplies, access to medical care, and medical supplies; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that any and all delivery of humanitarian aid be implemented with international oversight by an independent and impartial body; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the immediate and permanent ceasefire must include the release of all Israeli hostages and Palestinian civilians who are arbitrarily detained and held without charge or due process under administrative detention by the Israeli government, demanding their safety, wellbeing and humane treatment in compliance with international law; and, be it 

FURTHER RESOLVED, that there should be no ethnic cleansing, or current or future transfer or displacement of the population of Gaza, the West Bank, or other parts of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and no annexation of any part of Gaza; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that all displaced Palestinians, past and present, are granted the full right of return; and, be it 

FURTHER RESOLVED, that U.S. funding and military support must never be used in violation of international law or to commit human rights violations; and, be it 

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Biden Administration and Congress is urged to reevaluate U.S. regional policies to ensure security and justice in Gaza and the West Bank and for all in the region, and demand the United States clarify strategic objectives for achieving de-escalation and stability in the region, including lifting the siege on Gaza, which is in violation of international law; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the [NAME OF CITY] City Clerk’s Office provide a copy of this resolution to their representatives in the [NAME OF STATE] State Legislature, and the United States Congressional delegations from [NAME OF STATE]; and, be it

FINALLY RESOLVED, that the City Council requests city staff to identify and promote community education resources and services to support [NAME OF CITY] residents and community members affected by the ongoing hostilities, including counseling and mental health services, and support groups led by cultural and religious organizations.