Washington’s 10th Legislative District Democrats passed a CEASEFIRE resolution on March 16, 2024
RESOLUTION calling for an immediate de-escalation and cease-fire in Israel and occupied Palestine
WHEREAS all human life is precious, and the targeting of civilians, no matter their faith or ethnicity, is a violation of international humanitarian law (1) ; and
WHEREAS since October 7, 2023, armed violence has claimed the lives of over 30,000 Palestinians and over 1,000 Israelis, including Americans, and wounded thousands more; and
WHEREAS the Washington State Democratic Platform states:
“The United States must work closely and persistently with other countries to prevent or stop genocide wherever it occurs”;
“Serious, full, constructive, and persistent United States engagement to promote negotiations and other actions that will lead to a peaceful, sustainable resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on mutual recognition and ensuring security, economic growth, and quality of life for the peoples of the sovereign state of Palestine and the sovereign state of Israel;”
“We call for the United States to honor and ratify international treaties that protect civilian populations, refugees, and human rights, address climate change and prevent genocide;
“We oppose the use of United States tax money to fund, train or sponsor military or police forces that suppress human and civil rights in foreign countries;
“We oppose the sale or provision of weapons to countries that violate human rights;” (2)
WHEREAS the State of Israel has engaged in a sustained and unprecedented bombing campaign and siege amounting to collective punishment of civilians, resulting in displacement of over 1.7 million people (3) , total breakdown of civil society services; and has bombed hospitals, churches, mosques, universities, refugee camps and homes with total disregard for civilian casualties; and cut off food, water, electricity, and fuel and has bombed infrastructure from de-salinization plants to solar power facilities;
WHEREAS international law forbids the intentional targeting of civilians, hostage-taking, collective punishment, forced displacement, and denying immediate humanitarian aid (4) .
THEREFORE, Be It Resolved that the 10th Legislative District Democrats:
Express profound sorrow for the loss of innocent lives in Gaza, Israel, and the broader region.
Call for an immediate and sustained cease fire, the provision of lifesaving humanitarian aid in Gaza and the release of all hostages.
Call on our Washington State Congressional Delegation, and the Biden Administration to do the same, to call for a cease fire, humanitarian aid, and the release of all hostages, and to seek comprehensive and peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, return Israeli hostages, Palestinian prisoners, and respect the rights of all parties;
Call for immediate cessation of all military aid to the State of Israel, until a ceasefire is declared and humanitarian aid can be established.
(1) International humanitarian law (IHL) is a set of rules that seeks, for humanitarian reasons, to limit the effects of armed conflict. It protects persons who are not, or are no longer, directly or actively participating in hostilities, and imposes limits on the means and methods of warfare. IHL is also known as "the law of war" or "the law of armed conflict". IHL is part of public international law, which is made up primarily of treaties, customary international law and general principles of law. https://www.icrc.org/en/document/what-international-humanitarian-law
(2) Washington State Democrats Platform 2022 - Foreign Policy Plank pp 27-29, chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.wa-democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/2022-Washington-State-Democrats-Platform-Passed-6-25-2022.pdf
(3) https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/gciv-1949
(4) Geneva Convention of 1949, Part 2, General protection of populations against certain consequences of war. https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/gciv-1949