Progressive cities in California debate on adopting resolution in support of ceasefire in Gaza
Eden Villalovas
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Several California cities are considering the adoption of a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas, and a few progressive areas have already taken a stance.
On Tuesday, San Francisco Supervisors Dean Preston and Hillary Ronen introduced a three-page resolution at the board’s meeting.
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“All human life is precious, and the targeting of civilians is a violation of international humanitarian law,” they wrote.
The resolution also seeks humanitarian aid in Gaza and calls for the “release of hostages, and condemning antisemitic, anti-Palestinian, and Islamophobic rhetoric and attacks.”
If approved, San Francisco would follow two other California cities, Richmond and Oakland, in adopting resolutions calling for a ceasefire.
Richmond became the first city in the U.S. to adopt such a resolution on Oct. 25, with the City Council voting 5-1 in calling for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The resolution expressed support for Palestinians in Gaza and accused Israel of “ethnic cleansing” and “collective punishment” while calling for “an end to Israeli apartheid and the occupation and blockade of Palestinian land by Israeli military forces.”
The Oakland City Council voted unanimously on Nov. 27 for a ceasefire, similarly calling for the release of all hostages and unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
Other progressive cities have not followed suit. Berkeley rejected such calls after citizens issued public comments pushing to adopt a ceasefire resolution during City Council meetings.
Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín said the resolution would not be on the table in a statement before a City Council meeting last week.
“It is impossible to ignore the suffering that is occurring, just as it is impossible to ignore the disturbing rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia spreading throughout the world,” Arreguín said. “These resolutions will not end the violence abroad, but they do fan the flames of hatred here at home.”
The Santa Ana City Council, which used to be a Republican stronghold located in Orange County, shot down a resolution on Tuesday evening that was brought by Councilmen Johnathan Hernandez and Benjamin Vazquez, accusing Israel of war crimes and urging a ceasefire.
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A ceasefire between Hamas and Israel ended on Friday morning. During the seven-day pause in fighting, Hamas agreed to release 110 people from Gaza, 78 of whom were children and women, and 240 Palestinians were released from Israeli jails.
Since Oct. 7, 16,248 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza Health Ministry figures, which are overseen by the Hamas-controlled government. Over 1,200 people were killed in Hamas’s attack on Israel, according to Israeli officials.