Detroit City Council to consider resolution calling for cease-fire in Gaza

Detroit City Council is drafting a plan calling for an immediate cease-fire nearly a month after war broke out between Israel and Hamas.

Council member Gabriela Santiago-Romero is requesting that the council’s legislative policy division draft a resolution calling for releasing hostages, humanitarian aid and requesting the federal government push for reconciliation between Israel and Palestinians since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack. Santiago-Romero attempted to walk on a resolution last week but could not get enough support from her colleagues, who asked her to draft a "more neutral" statement, she said.

"Frankly, I thought my statement was incredibly neutral. It didn't mention anything about any of the conflict but I understand some members may not feel comfortable with that," Santiago-Romero said. "The pushback that I get is that we're not the federal government. But what I say to that is that I have constituents that have family there. This should matter to us ... if you don't understand the full conflict and the whole issue, I understand not wanting to say the wrong thing. But I think that we can all agree that the violence needs to stop and that they need aid, and that we should be working towards peace."

The memorandum was referred to the public health and safety standing committee. Santiago-Romero, at a Saturday rally at Hart Plaza, stood in solidarity with protesters calling for an end to the airstrikes on Gaza, noting too many politicians are silent on the issue.

'Gruesome acts,' 'unjustified response' must be condemned

“Both Palestinians and Israelis alike are mourning,” Santiago-Romero said in a statement following the rally. “Israel is depriving Palestinians of their inherent human rights and basic needs such as food, water, health care, medical supplies and electricity. There are both Israeli hostages and Palestinian political prisoners; and we must agree that human lives should never be used as pawns to advance geopolitical, financial or other interests."

More than 8,000 Palestinians have been killed, including more than 3,500 children, after more than 1,400 Israelis were killed and about 220 hostages taken in Hamas' Oct. 7 attack, the New York Times reported. Palestinians in Gaza were cut off from internet and communications last week as Israeli bombardment escalated, and from food, water, fuel and electricity. U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, also called for a cease-fire and blasted President Joe Biden for not showing empathy for Palestinians ahead of an Israeli ground invasion as several elected officials supported Israel.

The District 6 council member said that “an immediate de-escalation and cease-fire to stop the indiscriminate bombing and killing of civilians in Gaza” is needed and that officials must call out injustice everywhere.

“This starts with a mutual acceptance of the fact that while we must condemn the gruesome acts of Hamas, we also must condemn Israel's brutal, disproportionate and unjustified response waged against all Palestinians. The displacement and indiscriminate bombing of Palestinians and destruction of essential infrastructure, combined with a blockade of humanitarian aid, amount to war crimes. Two things can be true, and both must be condemned,” Santiago-Romero said in a statement.

Mayor Mike Duggan stood firmly with Biden last week, after launching the city's online Land Value Tax estimator, saying "the whole world should be against Hamas." Duggan also urged humanitarian aid for Palestinians, who have received limited trucks of supplies.

"This country needs to be committed to the Palestinians that are caught in the middle in a dramatic way. We need to step up the aid, and I've talked to the White House a couple times in the last couple of weeks about making sure that we are fully committed humanitarian aid," Duggan said Thursday. "(Biden) has been strongly against Hamas terrorists and outraged at the loss of life to those terrorists, but also, he's becoming very proactive in the humanitarian aid to Palestinians. He's now starting to be very proactive about a permanent two-state solution. I think that's exactly where we should be."

Residents speak up at council meetings

Several Detroit residents spoke out against the attacks since the bombardment began.

John Lauve said he came to the meeting with reports about Israeli war crimes against Palestinians.

“This is just criminal behavior, and this whole deal with Gaza is just sickening,” Lauve said.

Steven Hawring has spoken in a several recent council meetings, noting his support for Israel.

“From the river to the sea, I stand 100% with (President) Joe Biden and Israel,” Hawring said. “Oct. 7 was the worst attack against Jews since the Holocaust. Israel might be overdoing it, you can say that, but Israel has the right to defend themselves.”

Karen Hammer has also voiced her concerns of crimes against humanity in several meetings, advocating for a cease-fire and pushing for a human rights-based resolution.

“Jewish Voice for Peace, including Holocaust survivors and their families and allies say, ‘Not in my name,’ and call for a cease-fire right now. True justice would be equality for all,” Hammer said.

Hamtramck and Dearborn actions

Other cities have taken up their own council resolutions.

The Hamtramck City Council on Oct. 24 passed a resolution calling for a cease-fire, and the Dearborn City Council unanimously approved a statement calling for a cease-fire.

The Hamtramck resolution called “for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza,” asking “President Biden and all elected officials and policymakers in our government to employ their influence and authority to advocate for an immediate cease-fire. We also implore them to facilitate the unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, with the dual purpose of preserving innocent lives, reinstating peace and stability, and preventing the further proliferation of violence to neighboring regions.”

In February, the city of Hamtramck approved a proclamation expressing support for Palestinians.

About 39% of Hamtramck’s residents are Arab American and 54% of Dearborn is Arab American, the highest percentage among cities in the U.S.

The Dearborn council approved a statement read by Dearborn City Council President Michael Sareini at the Oct. 24 meeting that said in part: “We call for immediate humanitarian aid to the civilians in Gaza. Basic life necessities such as food, water, medical supplies must be able to flow into Gaza to those in need. Civilians must be able to get out of harm's way, and in order to do so there must be a cease fire to allow their safe passage.”

The statement added that “every civilian's life is equally valuable” and called for a “just solution.”

The statement also told the city’s residents that “you are safe in Dearborn” amid concern about hate crimes. And it criticized conservative commentators who have called out high school students in Dearborn for walking out of schools in support of Palestinians. About 1,450 students walked out of the Dearborn’s three public high schools two weeks ago and rallied for Gaza.

“We stand with our high school students, who chose to exercise their fundamental American right to peacefully protest, we denounce the media reports to the contrary,” Sareini said, reading the statement.

After the statement was read, Sareini led them in a moment of silence “for all the lives that have been lost in this conflict,” he said.

The chief of staff for Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, Zaineb Hussein, then spoke at the meeting, criticizing what she called the “apartheid government” of Israel, telling residents affected by the conflict: “You are not alone. … We feel your pain.”

Among cities outside of Michigan, Richmond, California, passed a resolution supporting Palestinians and accused Israel of “ethnic cleansing and collective punishment” three weeks after the attacks. The Chicago City Council passed a resolution condemning Hamas and supporting Israel.

Dana Afana is the Detroit city hall reporter for the Free Press. Contact Dana: dafana@freepress.com or 313-635-3491. Follow her on Twitter: @DanaAfana.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit City Council weighing Gaza-Israel cease-fire resolution