Rochester, New York passed a CEASEFIRE resolution on March 22, 2024

WHEREAS, the City of Rochester is a Sanctuary City committed to freedom, dignity, racial equity, and self-determination for all individuals in our community and around the world; and

WHEREAS, the October 7th attack by Hamas and the subsequent incursion by Israel into Gaza has resulted in immense suffering and loss of human life, with the death of more than 1000 Israelis and more than 30,000 Palestinians in Gaza, of whom over 12,000 are children; and

WHEREAS, the United States has spent billions of dollars on Israel’s military operations in Gaza for which there is no plausible military solution, and the continuation of military action will only make the humanitarian crisis in Gaza more dire, and further harm the Palestinian people, both in Gaza, where there is widespread hunger and a shortage of safe drinking water, and in the West Bank, where Israel continues to further expand illegal settlements onto occupied Palestinian land, and contribute to an increase in violence in the entire region.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the undersigned Members of the Rochester City Council, call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza that precludes all further violence by Israel and Hamas via US Congress Resolution H.R. 786, a resolution by the UN Security Council, or international diplomacy; the release of all hostages and prisoners; the unrestricted access of humanitarian aid into Gaza; and the cessation of further U.S. military aid that upholds a system of legalized racial segregation that promotes violence against and suffering of the Palestinian people; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Rochester stands in solidarity with our Palestinian, Israeli and wider Muslim, Arab, and Jewish communities, affirming our commitment to the safety, security and inclusion of all people within our city; and we express our sincere hope that the international community similarly come together to work toward a political solution that leads to a lasting and just peace that will safeguard human and civil rights for all people in Israel and Palestine.