South Tucson, Arizona passed a CEASEFIRE resolution on March 5, 2024

RESOLUTION NO. 24-04

A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH TUCSON, ARIZONA, REQUESTING THAT ARIZONA'S FEDERAL DELEGATION SUPPORT H. RES. 786 CALLING FOR AN IMMEDIATE DE-ESCALATION AND CEASEFIRE, AS WELL AS OTHER LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS THAT ADVANCE THE GOAL OF ENDING VIOLENCE IN THE REGION

WHEREAS, escalating violence in Gaza, as of February 28th, 2024, has claimed over 30,000 civilian lives, with thousands more still under the rubble, injured over 70,000, displaced over 1.9 million, targeted civilian and medical infrastructure, erased cultural and historical landmarks; and

WHEREAS, all these atrocities constitute a horrendous form of collective punishment using weapons provided by our government, in violation of our own laws, as well as international humanitarian law; and

WHEREAS, the City of South Tucson Mayor and Council mourn the loss of life of innocent Israelis as a result of the horrific attack by Hamas on October 7th, 2023; and

WHEREAS, the City of South Tucson Mayor and Council also mourn the loss of life of thousands of innocent Palestinians through decades of displacement, occupation, apartheid, and siege, and as a result of the horrific and indiscriminate bombing as described by President Biden; and

WHEREAS, the United States funding and unconditional support of Israel has had gravely negative impacts on human life globally, and has proven that military solutions have failed to keep both Palestinians and Israelis safe; and

WHEREAS, The International Court of Justice, humanity's highest court, determined that charges of genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza are plausible and have granted provisional measures; and

WHEREAS, H. Res. 786 was introduced in the United States House of Representatives on October 25th, 2023, by House Representative Cori Bush of Missouri on behalf of herself and 17 cosponsors, calling for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Israel and occupied Palestine, and the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza.

THEREFORE, NOW BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH TUCSON, ARIZONA, AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. The Mayor and Council, on behalf of the people of South Tucson, call on the Biden administration to respect the decision of the International Court of Justice and ensure the court's provisional measures to prevent genocide are enacted, and to ensure that we, the American people, are not complicit in genocidal acts; and

SECTION 2. As such, Mayor and Council strongly support the call for immediate ceasefire in Israel and occupied Palestine, and call on Arizona's federal delegation to support H. Res. 786, as well as other legislative actions that advance the goal of ending violence in the region, providing humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza, and to stop the provision of funding or other resources that will prolong conflict or contribute to further loss of life; and

SECTION 3. The Mayor and Council urgently call on the Biden administration to abandon violent and military solutions and pursue and encourage peaceful and diplomatic means to resolving conflicts in the Middle East and around the world; and

SECTION 4. A copy of this resolution will be sent to the offices of: United States House of Representative members David Schweikert, Elijah Crane, Ruben Gallego, Greg Stanton, Andy Biggs, Juan Ciscomani, Raul Grijalva, Debbie Lesko, and Paul Gosar; United States Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema; Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs; U.S. President Joe Biden; U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris; U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken; and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin

PASSED, ADOPTED AND APPROVED by the Mayor and Council of the City of South Tucson, Arizona this _5th day of March 2024.