Raleigh urged to call for cease-fire in Israel-Hamas war

Pro-Palestinian speakers demanded Raleigh city leaders pass a resolution calling for a cease-fire in the latest war between Israel and Hamas.

Doha Hindi, a Raleigh resident, said she is a Palestinian American and her mother is a member of the Al-shawa family. She spent her time before the Raleigh City Council Tuesday night reading the names of 42 family members who were killed, ranging in age from 5 to 77.

“I reject the use of my tax money for the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people,” she said. “It is illogical for us to be funding a foreign entity’s military when we have so many unaddressed concerns within our own city and country. You have a moral responsibility to represent your constituents, and that involves calling for a cease-fire.”

Ninety-four people signed-up to speak to the council, though only about 65 spoke during the meeting. More than half calling for a cease-fire. Many held signs that read “Stop funding genocide,” “Free Palestine” and “Children pay the price of your hatred.”

Most of the speakers wore black and white checkered keffiyeh and had painted their hands red, holding them up when a pro-Palestinian speaker was at the podium.

After nearly four hours of speakers, the City Council agreed to consider a resolution.

Speakers criticize US funding for Israel

On Oct. 7, Hamas stormed Israeli towns near the blockaded Gaza Strip, killing an estimated 1,400 people, most of them civilians

Israel then began airstrikes on Gaza, leveling neighborhoods. Since the war began, more than 11,000 Palestinians have been killed, including more than 4,000 children, The Associated Press has reported.

The United States provides $3.8 billion every year to Israel with nearly all of that money going toward Israel’s military, and the Biden administration has requested $14 billion more in aid.

Many speakers mentioned that funding, saying the money could be used for education, affordable housing and other programs in Raleigh and the United States.

“I demand you condemn the state of Israel for their barbaric and tortuous extermination of more than 11,000 Palestinians,” said Hamdi Hashi.

Fatima Shaat went to school in Gaza before coming to Raleigh to finish high school, she said. Her cousins, classmates and neighbors have been killed, and she is worried about her mother’s safety.

“My mom was just here this summer in Raleigh,” she said. “She loves Raleigh. I love the community. I’m trying to make a home for myself here in Raleigh because Palestine has become a hell because of the U.S. and Israel. ... I am standing here also to show you that we’re just people here. I was there. My family is there. How can you go to bed tonight knowing you’re killing people like me?”

Other speakers called on the city to not send any money to Israel (The News & Observer has asked the city if any money is sent to Israel) and for the city to follow Durham’s lead in banning “military-style training” in countries such as Israel. Durham passed that controversial statement in 2018, prompting backlash, protests and three lawsuits.

Former Raleigh Police Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown traveled to Israel as part of an international training. The N&O has requested information about that training and if any similar training has occurred since Estella Patterson became chief.

‘Everybody needs a break’

About two hours in, Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin said the City Council would take a 10-minute recess.

“I think everybody needs a break,” she said.

Someone in the crowd shouted, asking if Palestine had a break. Another asked if this was a humanitarian pause.

As some council members stood up, people started to chant “Cease-fire now,” and then “Free, free Palestine.”

At points in the meeting, Council member Christina Jones held her hands up and chanted along with the group, blinking back years. Council member Mary Black also shed tears after she spoke to a woman and a young child in the audience who gave her a cardboard Palestine flag.

‘Just be calm’

Before the meeting resumed, Council member Jane Harrison thanked the speakers.

“Typically we listen up here and hopefully do right by you,” she said. “I hear the pain. I know what’s going on. I have been calling our senators.”

She was interrupted by applause.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen next, but I appreciate that you are here and that you are putting your voices out,” Harrison said. “I want to see the end of this conflict. It must happen as soon as possible.”

“So say ‘Free Palestine,” one person called out.

“It’s a genocide,” said another person.

“Ask the mayor to stop sharing Israeli propaganda,” said another person to loud applause and cheers.

Baldwin was criticized numerous times for attending an event in solidarity with Israel and tweeting an article and saying “We cannot accept this assault on Israel.”

Then Black spoke to the crowd.

“Believe me, I can respect the feeling of anger, of sadness, of everything that you’re feeling,” she said. “But if you want this meeting to finish tonight, and to have the remainder of the list have their chance to speak at the podium to us, we’re going to have to follow the rules of decorum and just be calm.”

Baldwin said the meeting would end if the disruptions continued.

City of Raleigh to review Carrboro resolution

At the end, Black asked the city attorney to review a resolution passed Tuesday night by the town of Carrboro, the first in the state to call for a cease-fire. Baldwin asked that another resolution shared with the City Council also be reviewed. Black asked that the review be back before the City Council’s next meeting.

“I didn’t expect all these people to come tonight,” Black said afterward. “But I’m glad they did. I think we can look into the resolution that Carrboro passed, as well as some of the things that were shared tonight. And see Raleigh can do to call for an urgent humanitarian action and a ceasefire.”

After the meeting, Baldwin said the event she attended was shortly after the Oct. 7 attack in Israel.

“It was right after the assault on Israel, and it was tragic and sad,” she said. “And I think that all of this is. It’s all sides. And that’s what makes it so difficult.”

She wants “to see balance” in any resolution the city considers.

“We have to acknowledge what also happened in Israel,” she said.