Ithaca, New York passed a CEASEFIRE resolution on March 6, 2024
8.2 Support of Permanent Ceasefire and Preventing Loss of Human Life in the Middle East
Whereas, we the Ithaca City Council work to ensure the safety, health, dignity, and freedom of people every day. We follow the lead of 60 other localities in calling for a ceasefire, because what happens internationally impacts our constituents locally; and
Whereas, we believe in the fundamental human rights and shared humanity of all people; and affirm it as a common value held by Ithaca residents and leaders; and
Whereas, the the Palestinian people are now facing a humanitarian crisis, and human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have reported that the government of the State of Israel has been engaging in collective punishment; and
Whereas, we recognize the right to self-determination and peaceful, safe futures for both Palestinian and Israeli people; and
Whereas, according to a November 2023 United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner press release, UN experts stated, “Many of us already raised the alarm about the risk of genocide in Gaza.” They also stated, “We are deeply disturbed by the failure of governments to heed our call and to achieve an immediate ceasefire. We are also profoundly concerned about the support of certain governments for Israel's strategy of warfare against the besieged population of Gaza, and the failure of the international system to mobilise to prevent genocide.”; and
Whereas, federal representatives of Ithaca and the President of the United States have remained supportive of this strategy of warfare and beseigement, and have not yet joined the growing chorus of federal representatives and domestic and international human rights organizations calling for a ceasefire; and
Whereas, on October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel by Hamas and other armed groups resulted in the killing of more than 1200 Israelis — including approximately 800 civilians, which human rights groups consider war crimes. More than 200 hostages, including civilians, were taken captive; and
Whereas, Palestinians living in Gaza are being killed at an unprecedented rate. Over 30,000 Gazans – including at least 10,000 children – have been killed in 145 days, meaning 1 child in Gaza is killed every 15 minutes, and over 17,000 have been orphaned. Over 300 medical workers and over 100 journalists have been killed. Proportional to population, the death toll in Gaza is the equivalent to over 4.2 million American deaths. In addition, over 69,000 Gazans are wounded, and over 7,000 are missing under the rubble; and
Whereas, we unequivocally condemn the targeting and killing of Palestinian and Israeli civilians, which would constitute a violation of international law; and
Whereas, The Government of The State of Israel has bombed Palestinian civilians and infrastructure indiscriminately, destroying or damaging: at least two-thirds of all homes in northern Gaza; 23 hospitals and 141 medical facilities; 70% of schools; over 100 places of worship; bakeries; refugee camps; roads; and other essential infrastructure. This has destroyed access to food, clean water, healthcare, shelter, and sanitation essential to human life and caused mass displacement of as many as 90% of Gazans; and
Whereas, in the past several weeks, the Government of the State of Israel has begun bombing the city of Rafah, which it had previously designated as a safe zone by telling Palestinians “those who want to save their life, please go south.” Due to this designation, over 1.3 million Palestinians are currently sheltering in the city, which measures about 25 square miles — not much larger than the City of Ithaca — and the Government of the State of Israel has announced its intent to fully invade the city within a month. 26 of the 27 European Union nations have warned that this offensive would be “unconscionable” and would inevitably lead to “absolutely catastrophic” loss of civilian life; and
Whereas, Israel’s ongoing bombardment and invasion of the Gaza Strip comes in the context of the 75-year displacement of Palestinians and 56-year military and settler occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, found in 2016 by the United Nations Security Council to be unlawful, as well as the 17-year blockade of Gaza; and
Whereas, the World Health Organization, United Nations, Save the Children, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, His Holiness Pope Francis, more than 120 countries, and countless other organizations in New York and around the world have called for a ceasefire to end the violence and suffering in the Gaza Strip. Doctors Without Borders has advocated for, “a total ceasefire and the unconditional supply of humanitarian aid, including access to food, fuel, and water. The survival of people in Gaza depends on this”; and
Whereas, on Thursday, January 11, 2024, and Friday, January 12, 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Hague held public hearings in the case brought forward by South Africa against Israel for alleged violations of the Genocide Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide during its operations in Gaza. South Africa’s application alleges that “acts and omissions by Israel... are genocidal in character, as they are committed with the requisite specific intent... to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as a part of the broader Palestinian national, racial and ethnic group.” South Africa’s actions to receive provisional protections of the people of Gaza are supported by several countries and over 1,000 organizations worldwide; and
Whereas, we as local leaders are using our voice to stand firmly against the rise of and all acts of racially motivated violence and hate crimes perpetrated against our Jewish, Muslim, Palestinian, and Arab constituents here in Ithaca and around the United States; and
Whereas, the City of Ithaca has a longstanding history of sharing statements on issues happening throughout society that impact our constituents here at home, and in this moment we are advocating to our State and Federal leaders to use their power to call for peace.
Now, Therefore, Be it Resolved by The City Council of the City of Ithaca:
That the City Council of the City of Ithaca supports our State and Federal representatives and the Biden Administration using their authority to:
Advance a full, immediate, and permanent ceasefire, along with urgently needed humanitarian aid as a necessary step towards lasting peace.
Support an end to U.S. military funding to the State of Israel, and an end to U.S. tax dollars contributing to humanitarian catastrophe and loss of life.
Ensure the release of all Israeli hostages taken by Hamas.
Ensure the release of thousands of Palestinians held indefinitely without cause and trial in Israeli military prisons.
Now, Be it Further Resolved, that the Office of the City Clerk provide a copy of this Resolution to Ithaca’s elected representatives to the New York State Legislature, and New York’s elected representatives to the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate, Governor Hochul, and the Office of President Biden.