San Francisco, California CEASEFIRE resolution passed on January 9, 2024

Resolution calling for a sustained ceasefire in Gaza, humanitarian aid, release of hostages, and condemning antisemitic, anti-Palestinian, and Islamophobic rhetoric and attacks.

WHEREAS, All human life is precious, and the targeting of civilians is a violation of international humanitarian law; and

WHEREAS, Between October 7 and December 4, 2023, armed violence has claimed the lives of at least 15,000 Palestinians and over 1,200 Israelis, and wounded thousands more; and

WHEREAS, An estimated 1,700,000 Palestinians have been displaced from Gaza since October 7, 2023; 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 more than 137 remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza are also at imminent risk; and

WHEREAS, The United States Government currently provides substantial military funding to Israel; 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, A growing number of cities around the country have called for a ceasefire; and

WHEREAS, A growing number of labor unions have recently called for a ceasefire, including local unions in San Francisco that represent City workers, some of whom are reporting higher instances of anti-Palestinian racism, Islamophobia, antisemitism, and xenophobia as they perform their job duties; and

WHEREAS, On November 21, 2023, the Biden Administration announced an agreement to a four-day pause in hostilities, the release of at least 50 Israeli hostages, and the release of 150 Palestinian prisoners; and

WHEREAS, On November 24, 2023, the four-day pause in hostilities began, and was extended two days on November 28, 2023; and

WHEREAS, On November 27, 2023, the UN Secretary General issued a statement urging that “[t]he dialogue that led to the agreement must continue, resulting in a full humanitarian ceasefire, for the benefit of the people of Gaza, Israel and the wider region;” and

WHEREAS, The temporary pause ended on December 1, 2023, and was immediately followed by aerial bombardment and rocket fire; and

WHEREAS, Many San Franciscans have deep connections to Israel, Gaza, and the region, including family, friends, and loved ones there; and

WHEREAS, Following the brutal attack by Hamas militants on Israelis on October 7, 2023, San Francisco Israelis, Jews and others have experienced, and continue to experience, shock, trauma, grief, and fear, compounded by rising antisemitism in our nation and our city; and

WHEREAS, Israel’s sustained and devastating military assault on Gaza since October 7th has caused San Francisco Palestinians, Muslims and others to experience, and continue to experience, shock, trauma, grief, and fear, compounded by rising anti-Palestinian racism and Islamophobia in our nation and our city; and

WHEREAS, Antisemitic, anti-Palestinian, Islamophobic, and xenophobic rhetoric and attacks are on the rise across the nation and in San Francisco; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the San Francisco Board of Supervisors calls for a sustained ceasefire, provision of life-saving humanitarian aid in Gaza, and the release of all hostages; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the San Francisco Board of Supervisors urges the Biden Administration and Congress to call for a ceasefire, humanitarian aid, and the release of all hostages; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the San Francisco Board of Supervisors condemns antisemitic, anti-Palestinian, Islamophobic, and all xenophobic rhetoric and attacks.