Democratic Party of Hawaii resolution unanimously adopted December 2, 2023
Calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and initiation of negotiations for a lasting peace
Whereas, All human life is precious and the targeting of non-combatants in a conflict zone is a violation of Rule 1 of customary International Humanitarian Law;1
Whereas, Between October 7 and December 2, 2023, armed violence has claimed the lives of more than 13,000 Palestinians and some 1,200 Israelis, and wounded tens of thousands more, the vast majority of which are civilians;
Whereas, Hundreds of thousands of lives are at imminent risk if a permanent ceasefire is not achieved and humanitarian aid is not delivered without delay;
Whereas, Roughly half of the Palestinians killed or wounded during the violence in Gaza are children and International Humanitarian Law requires that all parties to an armed conflict protect children and prevent the commission of grave violations against them, including killing and maiming, attacks on schools and hospitals, recruitment and use of children, abduction of children, and denial of humanitarian access;2
Whereas, These children and their families face further imminent threats due to Israeli government restrictions on food, water, fuel, and other humanitarian assistance being able to reach them;
Whereas, The dismantling of Hamas, a recognized terrorist organization, cannot and should not be achieved at the expense of innocent lives; and
Whereas, The United States Federal Government holds immense diplomatic power to save both Palestinian and Israeli lives; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the State Central Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi calls on the members of the Hawaiʻi Congressional Delegation to support the Ceasefire Now Resolution introduced by Representative Cori Bush; and to insist that the Biden Administration call for an immediate, permanent ceasefire, to facilitate the de-escalation of hostilities to end the current violence, to promptly send and facilitate the entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, including fuel, food, water, medical supplies, and to begin negotiations for a lasting peace; and be it
Ordered, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the offices of the members of the Hawaiʻi Congressional Delegation, the U.S. House Minority Leader, President Joe Biden, as well as the chair of the Democratic National Committee.
1 International Committee of the Red Cross, “Rule 1, The Principle of Distinction between Civilians and Combatants,” ICRC Study on Customary International Humanitarian Law, Volume I (Rules), 2005, Cambridge University Press
2 International Committee of the Red Cross, “Rule 135, Children,” ICRC Study on Customary International Humanitarian Law, Volume I (Rules), 2005, Cambridge University Press
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Press Release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2, 2023
Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi Adopts Resolution Calling for a Permanent Ceasefire in Gaza
HONOLULU, Hawaiʻi — The State Central Committee (SCC) of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi adopted a resolution on Saturday, December 2, 2023, calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and initiation of negotiations for a lasting peace.
The resolution calls on the members of the Hawaiʻi Congressional Delegation to support the Ceasefire Now Resolution introduced by Representative Cori Bush at the national level. The resolution also calls on the delegation to insist that the Biden Administration call for an immediate, permanent ceasefire, to facilitate the de-escalation of hostilities to end the current violence, to promptly send and facilitate the entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, including fuel, food, water, medical supplies, and to begin negotiations for a lasting peace.
“This resolution serves as an acknowledgement that the pathway to peace cannot be illuminated by the awful glow of bombs bursting over Gaza,” said Will Caron, assistant secretary of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi and co-introducer of the resolution. “We must do everything we can to push our elected officials to exercise the United States’ immense influence over Israel, and bring the killing to an end. Only when the bombs stop dropping on Gaza can the pathway to peace begin to be uncovered and dug out of the rubble.”
The resolution was adopted unanimously by the members of the SCC, making the Hawaiʻi Democratic Party the second state party to adopt such a resolution after the Texas Democratic Party’s executive committee adopted a resolution earlier on the same day.
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The Democratic Party of Hawai’i passed the following 2 resolutions at their State Convention on May 18, 2024:
2024-31: Urging President Biden to Take Specific Actions to Achieve Peace in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories of Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem
Whereas, All human life is precious and the targeting of non-combatants in a conflict zone is a violation of Rule 1 of customary International Humanitarian Law (ICRC Study on Customary International Humanitarian Law, Volume I, 2005, Cambridge University Press); and
Whereas, The October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel caused the deaths of some 1,200 Israelis; and
Whereas, As of March 1, 2024, the official civilian casualty figures in Gaza have surpassed 30,000 deaths, with thousands of injuries reported and thousands of people missing under the rubble (Gaza Ministry of Health as quoted by National Public Radio, 2024); and
Whereas, One crime against humanity does not justify further crimes against humanity; and
Whereas, On March 25, 2024 the UN Security Council adopted a ceasefire resolution with the United States abstaining; and
Whereas, Peace requires justice and liberation for all peoples, universal respect for international law, and human rights for all; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi urges President Joe Biden to leverage the immense influence the U.S. has on Israel to establish a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinian people through the following actions:
1. Require all parties to agree to a permanent end to hostilities;
2. Require the release of all hostages held by Hamas, as well as the release of all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel under “administrative detention” without other charge;
3. Condition all transfers of weapons and funding from the United States to Israel pending Department of Defense verification and publication of data to prove that Israel is taking actionable steps to prevent civilian casualties and to allow unhindered humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza;
4. Establish an UN peacekeeping presence throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territories to protect all civilians from further harm (including within Israel);
5. Create a truth and reconciliation commission drawing on models from other post-conflict societies to investigate human rights abuses and provide a platform for victims on both sides to be heard;
6. Implement restorative justice initiatives to address the needs of victims, hold perpetrators accountable, and restore the social fabric of Palestine and Israel; and
7. Provide and protect unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid, support for refugees and displaced persons, and assistance in rebuilding Palestinian infrastructure and economy; and be it
Ordered, That copies of this resolution shall be transmitted to the offices of President Joe Biden, the members of the Hawaiʻi Congressional Delegation, the U.S. House Minority Leader, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of the State of Hawaiʻi, the President of the Hawaiʻi State Senate and the Speaker of the Hawaiʻi State House, and all members of the Hawaiʻi State Legislature who are Democrats.
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2024-32: Urging the United States Congress to Immediately Reinstate Funding for the UNRWA Pending the Creation of an Agency Plan to Prevent Involvement in Terrorist Activities
Whereas, The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has been providing critical humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees since its establishment in 1949; and
Whereas, Innocent men, women, and children in Palestine continue to face dire humanitarian conditions, including mass displacement, loss of livelihoods, and limited access to necessities such as food, clean water, and health care services; and
Whereas, Palestinian refugees are faced with escalating conflicts and crises in the region, resulting in more than 30,000 deaths and 1,900,000 people displaced from their homes; and
Whereas, Most of UNRWA’s regular budget for Gaza pays for the salaries of 13,000 employees in the region, including teachers, health care specialists, engineers, and sanitation workers; and
Whereas, That extra money has paid for flour for 350,000 families, 14 million food items, mattress pads, blankets, and kitchen sets, and the distribution of 20 million liters of water; and
Whereas, Some of UNRWA’s budget in Gaza also goes to distributing life-saving medications, including insulin and vaccines; and
Whereas, The United States usually gives between $300,000,000 to $400,000,000 to UNRWA on an annual basis, according to Matthew Miller, Spokesperson for the United States Department of State, which amounts to roughly one-third of the agency’s annual budget; and
Whereas, In January 2024, the United States suspended funding to UNRWA amid claims that 12 of its 13,000 staff members in Gaza may have abetted extremist activities, and in response, the United Nations Secretary-General immediately announced the creation of an independent panel to investigate the allegations made against UNRWA employees, who were subsequently terminated; and
Whereas, Suspension of funding to UNRWA by the United States government has severely impacted UNRWA’s ability to deliver life-saving assistance to Palestinian refugees, and reinstating funding to UNRWA is essential to ensure the delivery of critical services for Palestinian refugees, such as food, health care, and emergency relief assistance; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi urges the United States Congress to promptly reinstate funding for the UNRWA to support its life-saving and critical humanitarian assistance programs for Palestinian refugees pending the creation of an agency plan to prevent employee involvement in terrorist activities; and be it
Ordered, That copies of this resolution shall be transmitted to the offices of President Joe Biden, the United States Secretary of State, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, the members of the Hawaiʻi Congressional Delegation, the President of the Hawaiʻi State Senate and the Speaker of the Hawaiʻi State House, and all members of the Hawaiʻi State Legislature who are Democrats.