Washington State’s 44th Legislative District Democrats CEASEFIRE resolution passed on January 11, 2024

Resolution In Support of an Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza

WHEREAS all human life is precious and the targeting of civilians, no matter their faith or ethnicity, is a violation of international humanitarian law;

WHEREAS between October 7 and December 6, 2023, armed violence has claimed the lives of at least 16,000 Palestinians (approximately 40% of whom are children) and over 1,200 Israelis, with tens of thousands more wounded;

WHEREAS in response to the attack by Hamas on October 7, the Israeli military has imposed a siege -- following more than 16 years of military blockade -- on the Gaza Strip, depriving the 2.3 million Palestinian people in Gaza (nearly half of whom are children) of water, food, electricity and fuel; 

WHEREAS as of November 1, the Israeli military admitted to having dropped 10,000 bombs on Gaza, which averages 72 bombs for every square mile of Gaza, with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimating that at least 45 percent of housing units had been  destroyed or damaged, as of November 8.

WHEREAS hundreds of thousands of lives are at imminent risk without an immediate long-term ceasefire, restoration of basic necessities, and delivery of adequate humanitarian aid without delay to the Palestinian people; 

WHEREAS the United States government and our elected leaders hold immense diplomatic power to prevent the further loss of Israeli and Palestinian lives;

WHEREAS the majority of the world and the majority of Americans support an immediate long-term ceasefire in Israel and occupied Palestine, and millions of people worldwide including from the 44th LD have joined in peaceful protests since October 7 to amplify this call;

WHEREAS the 44th Legislative District Democrats have the ability to request that Washington State’s federal delegation call for an immediate long-term ceasefire to stop the violence, the safe return of all hostages, the delivery of adequate humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people without delay in order to prevent the loss of hundreds of thousands more lives;

WHEREAS antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Palestinian/anti-Arab bigotry have risen significantly in the Seattle area, across the United States, and around the world in the past three months, with direct impacts on our local communities – from synagogues and mosques to schools, homes, offices, and places where communities gather, as well as at protests and rallies;

WHEREAS all of these forms of bigotry, violence, and oppression serve to divide our communities and weaken our efforts to achieve collective safety, justice, and true multi-ethnic, multi-racial democracy here and everywhere; 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 44th Legislative District Democrats condemn both the attack on October 7, 2023 by Hamas, and the Israeli military’s disproportionate response on the 2.3 million Palestinian people living in Gaza (nearly half of whom are children).

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the 44th Legislative District Democrats call on members of the Congressional delegation in Washington to support and sign-on to the “Ceasefire Now” resolution, HR 786, co-sponsored by Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, and to advocate more broadly for an immediate long-term ceasefire and delivery of adequate humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people. 

THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the 44th Legislative District Democrats affirm our commitment to combat antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Palestinian/anti-Arab bigotry, our support for the people of both Israel and Palestine to live in peace and security, and the right of all people to live, learn, work, play, pray, and engage in peaceful protest without threats, intimidation, violence, or death.