The Klamath Tribe (of southern Oregon) passed a CEASEFIRE resolution on February 28, 2024
The Klamath Tribes - Tribal Council
Tribal Council Resolution #2024-TC2024-008
DEMANDING AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE AND PROVISION OF HUMANITARIAN AID IN THE GAZA STRIP
WHEREAS, The Klamath and Modoc Tribes and the Yahooskin Band of Snake Indians signed the Treaty of 1864 establishing the Klamath Reservation; and
WHEREAS, The General Council of the Klamath membership is the governing body of the Tribes, by the authority of the Constitution of the Klamath Tribes (Article VI & VII section IV E) as approved by the General Council and most recently amended on September 26, 2013; and
WHEREAS, The Klamath Indian Tribes Restoration Act of August 27, 1986 (P.L. 99-398) restored the Federal government-to-government recognition to the Sovereign Government of the Klamath Tribes; and
WHEREAS, The Klamath Tribes' Tribal Council is the elected governmental body of the Klamath Tribes that has been delegated the authority to direct the day-to-day business and governmental affairs of the Klamath Tribes under the general guidance of the General Council (Constitution, Article VII, section I; Tribal Council by-laws, Article 1); and
WHEREAS, The Klamath Tribes are aware of the current military actions by the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) in the Gaza Strip in response to an attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which attack resulted in the deaths of 1,400 people and the taking of approximately 200 hostages; and
WHEREAS, The IDF's military actions in retaliation are killing civilians, including children, resulting in 29,000 people killed, 7,000 missing or presumed dead, and 69,000 wounded and disabled, with approximately two-thirds of this number comprised of women and children; and
WHEREAS, IDF's military actions are also disrupting and destroying the fundamental infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, resulting in starvation and deprivation of necessary health care 10 the Palestinian citizens of the Gaza Strip; and
WHEREAS, An estimated 1,700,000 Palestinians have been displaced from or within Gaza since October 7, 2023; and
WHEREAS, These military actions are a disturbing parallel to the displacement, genocidal attacks, and warfare waged by the United States against the Modoc, Klamath and Yahooskin people in the 1800s;
WHEREAS, As the result of the precedent set by the hanging of the Modoc leaders, the Klamath Tribes have a moral obligation to speak out against such military actions; and
WHEREAS, Hundreds of thousands of lives are at imminent risk in Gaza without a sustained ceasefire and without massive humanitarian relief; and
WHEREAS, The lives of the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza are also at imminent risk; and
WHEREAS, On October 26, 2023, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for an "immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce" between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in Gaza, and various other international humanitarian organizations have similarly called for a sustained ceasefire; and
WHEREAS, Federally recognized tribes and cities across the United States including Yurok Tribe; Navajo Nation; Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians; San Francisco, California; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Seattle, Washington; St Louis, Missouri; Detroit, Michigan; Atlanta, Georgia; Akron, Ohio; Wilmington, Delaware; Providence, Rhode Island; Richmond, California; Chicago, Illinois and Durham, North Carolina have passed resolutions, calls and proclamations calling for ceasefire in Gaza;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, The Klamath Tribes' Tribal Council does hereby direct the Tribal Chairman to draft a letter, in consultation with the Tribal Council, calling on the Biden Administration and the United States Congress to take all steps necessary to obtain (1) an immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian cease fire between the IDF and Hamas militants in Gaza; (2) the delivery of massive humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian citizens of the Gaza Strip, including medicine, food, and water, immediately and without delay; and (3) the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that copies of the letter be sent to President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, Senator Ron Wyden, Senator Jeff Merkley, and Congressman Cliff Bentz, and to the eight federally recognized tribes of Oregon.