The North Macomb Democratic Club of Macomb County, Michigan passed a CEASEFIRE resolution on January 11, 2024

RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IN GAZA AND IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES

WHEREAS, Gaza is a strip of land, the size of Detroit, that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians, half of whom are children and 70 percent of whom are refugees;

WHEREAS, Since 2007, Israel has maintained a crippling closure on the Gaza Strip, severely limiting the movement of all people and goods in and out of the territory, in a form of unlawful collective punishment that resulted in the decimation of Gaza’s economy and infrastructure (1); and

WHEREAS, In 2008, 2012, 2014, 2018, and 2021, Israel launched brutal military assaults on the Gaza Strip, killing at least 4,800 Palestinians, injuring tens of thousands more, and damaging or destroying thousands of homes, businesses, schools, mosques and churches; and

WHEREAS, On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an unprecedented attack against Israel, resulting in the death of 1139 Israeli soldiers and civilians and the taking of over 200 hostages; and

WHEREAS, The Cabinet of Israel subsequently formally declared war against Hamas, and the Israeli Defense Minister ordered a “complete siege” on Gaza, cutting off all food, water, electricity and fuel to the entire civilian population (2); and

WHEREAS, According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 1.9 million Palestinians have been internally displaced (3), do not have shelter from the elements, are existing in dangerous unsanitary conditions, and the lack of safe drinking water, food, fuel, electricity, and medical care has created a humanitarian disaster, including outbreaks of communicable diseases that is expected to kill more people than Israel’s bombs; and

WHEREAS, As of January 11, 2024, Israel’s bombing of Gaza has destroyed much of the civilian infrastructure of the territory, including 70 percent of homes, dozens of heritage sites, and a majority of its hospitals; and

WHEREAS, As of January 11, 2024, Israel’s assault on Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 23,000 Palestinians, two-thirds of them women and children, and the serious injury of 55,000, with over 7,000 more Palestinians missing under the rubble of their homes and presumed dead; as well as over 300 healthcare workers (4) and over 100 journalists (5), making this the deadliest conflict for journalists on record; and

WHEREAS, Israel’s restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid has led to widespread hunger throughout Gaza and the World Food Program now estimates that 80 percent of global famine is in Gaza (6), as a result of Israel’s deliberate use of food as a weapon of war, which is a war crime; and

WHEREAS The United Nations Secretary General (7) as well as the United Nations Fund for Children (8) have called Gaza “a graveyard for children” and, on December 29, 2023, the Republic of South instituted proceedings against Israel at the International Court of Justice, charging it with committing genocide (9); and

WHEREAS The United States currently supplies Israel with over $3.8 billion per year in military aid, without conditions and since October 7, 2023, has transferred millions more in weapons to Israel, despite the clear evidence and acknowledgment by President Biden that Israel is indiscriminately bombing civilians (10); and

WHEREAS The American people do not want their tax dollars being used to commit genocide in Gaza, nor kill civilians, particularly children, anywhere; and

WHEREAS The current war on Gaza marks the most significant escalation in decades, and continued escalation could result in a larger regional conflict with even more devastating consequences; and

WHEREAS, The North Macomb Democratic Club believes all sovereign nations in pursuit of safety and security must comply with international humanitarian law regardless of geographic context; and

WHEREAS, The North Macomb Democratic Club agrees that no human should be deprived of water, food, healthcare and medical supplies, energy (e.g. fuel and electricity), and other basic needs, and it decries the deprivation thereof; and

WHEREAS, The North Macomb Democratic Club condemns all acts of violence aimed at Israeli and Palestinian civilians, and mourns the loss of all civilian lives; and

WHEREAS, The North Macomb Democratic Club is gravely concerned and recognizes that a lasting resolution can only be achieved by peaceful means and diplomacy; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED,The North Macomb Democratic Club calls for an immediate, durable, and sustained ceasefire to protect and save human lives, which allows for humanitarian aid and the unhindered provision of goods to civilians throughout Gaza which are indispensable to their survival as required by international humanitarian law; and BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, As part of the cease fire, the North Macomb Democratic Club also calls for the unconditional release of all civilians who are being illegally held as hostages and political prisoners, demanding their safety, well-being, and humane treatment in compliance with international law; and BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED That the North Macomb Democratic Club calls for a suspension of all military aid to Israel; NOW, BE IT FINALLY

RESOLVED, That Chair of the North Macomb Democratic Club will provide a copy of this resolution to the Macomb County representatives to the Michigan legislature; and the United States Congressional delegations from Michigan.

1 https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2020/07/israels-collective-punishment-palestinians-illegal-and-affront-justice-un

2 https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/israeli-defense-minister-orders-complete-siege-on-gaza-after-hamas-surprise-attack

3 https://reliefweb.int/country/pse#key-figures

4 https://www.map.org.uk/news/archive/post/1543-more-health-workers-killed-in-israelas-assault-on-gaza-than-all-countries-in-conflict-in-any-year-since-2016

5 https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/10/israel-murdering-palestinian-journalists-in-gaza

6 https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/gaza-is-starving

7 https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/un-chief-says-gaza-becoming-graveyard-children-2023-11-06/

8 https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/gaza-has-become-graveyard-thousands-children

9 https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/192/192-20231228-app-01-00-en.pdf

10 https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/biden-takes-a-tougher-stance-on-israels-indiscriminate-bombing-of-gaza