Resolution Affirming the City of Lansing’s Call for an Immediate and Lasting Ceasefire in Gaza – As delivered to Lansing City Council January 8th 2024.

WHEREAS, the City of Lansing stands committed to the notion that all human life is precious in all communities and nations of the world regardless of national, ethnic, political, or religious affiliations; and  

WHEREAS, the recent and ongoing armed violence that has ensued since October 7^th 2023, has resulted in the tragic loss of life of thousands of Palestinians and Israelis; and

WHEREAS, the City of Lansing recognizes itself as a global community, enriched by a racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse community that continually stands on the side of human rights, peace, and justice; and

WHEREAS, the City of Lansing has an enduring international commitment to those fleeing violence, war, displacement, exploitation, and persecution as one of the major cities that provides a welcoming and safe home to the refugee community in Michigan; and

WHEREAS, Islamophobia, antisemitism, and anti-Palestinian/anti-Arab bigotry have risen considerably across the U.S. and the world, with direct impacts on our culturally diverse communities in Michigan; and

WHEREAS, as of January 2^nd, 2024, more than 22,000 Palestinians have been killed, including more than 8,000 children as the state of Israel is actively bombing and invading the Gaza Strip^1,2, and

WHEREAS, the state of Israel has bombed critical infrastructure throughout Gaza, including mosques and churches, hospitals and ambulances, and historical cultural heritage sites; with more than half of the housing units and more than half of all education facilities destroyed or damaged^3,4, and

WHEREAS, Since October 7^th, 2023, Israel has also bombed neighboring sovereign republics in the region, including Lebanon, which if not prevented, could escalate armed violence throughout the larger region⁵; and

WHEREAS, Israel has cut off access to basic life necessities including water, food, fuel, and electricity, are limiting humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, and have internally displaced 1.9 million Palestinians, resulting in mass starvation^6,7 and

WHEREAS, the Republic of South Africa has formally filed a case with the International Court of Justice in The Hague accusing Israel of violating the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide^8,9; and 

WHEREAS, the United Nations Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, more than 800 prominent scholars, including holocaust experts, and the Center for Constitutional Rights have issued calls to prevent genocide against the Palestinian people^10,11; and

WHEREAS, the state of Israel could not maintain this level of violence in Gaza and the region without the annual military funding and arms provisions by the United States at the expense of U.S. taxpayers; and

WHEREAS, the United States Federal Government holds great diplomatic power to save Palestinian and Israeli lives;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LANSING, that the capital city of Lansing, Michigan joins the calls from Jewish Voice for Peace¹², the majority of Michigan and U.S. residents¹³, and the growing number of cities across the U.S., for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, and the safe return of all Israeli hostages and all Palestinians extrajudicially detained by Israel; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Lansing calls for an immediate end to all U.S. military funding to Israel; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Lansing calls on the U.S. Federal Government to fulfill its responsibilities under international law towards the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Lansing condemns all forms of discrimination, including Islamophobia, antisemitism, and anti-Palestinian/anti-Arab racism; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Lansing expresses its immense sorrow over the loss of innocent lives and the suffering endured by civilians in Gaza, the West Bank,, Israel, and the broader region and extends deepest sympathies to Lansing and Michigan residents who have been directly impacted by the ongoing violence in any way, including the loss of loved ones; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that upon passage a copy of this Resolution be sent to 

the Office of U.S. President Joseph Biden, the Office of U.S. Representative Elissa Slotkin, The Offices of U.S. Senators Deborah Stabenow and Gary Peters, and the Office of Governor Gretchen Whitmer, whom we urge to support H. Res. 786 calling for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Israel and occupied Palestine put forward by fellow Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib; and

FINALLY, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Lansing advocates for peaceful diplomacy as the only way to achieve dignity and safety for all peoples. 

Details

References

1.Aljazeera. Gaza death toll surpasses 20,000 as UN Security Council delays vote on aid. Al Jazeera. Published December 20, 2023. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/20/gaza-death-toll-surpasses-20000-as-un-security-council-delays-vote-on-aid

2.Aljazeera. Israel maintains onslaught as Gaza death toll tops 22,000. Al Jazeera. Published January 2, 2024. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/2/israeli-bombardment-ongoing-as-death-toll-surpasses-22000

3.Norwegian Refugee Council. 10 things you should know about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. NRC. Published November 7, 2023. https://www.nrc.no/perspectives/2023/10-things-you-should-know-about-the-humanitarian-situation-in-gaza/

4.Najjar JS. Israel-Hamas war updates: First Palestinians released from Israeli prisons. Al Jazeera. Published November 24, 2023. Accessed January 5, 2024. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/11/24/israel-hamas-war-live-israel-continues-gaza-attacks-ahead-of-truce?update=2510065

5.Nashed, M. ‘Israeli warning’: Beirut bombing sparks anger, fear in Lebanon. Aljazeera. Published January 3^rd, 2024. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/3/israeli-warning-beirut-bombing-sparks-anger-fear-in-lebanon

6.UPDATED: Everyone is hungry in Gaza, warn UN humanitarians | UN News. news.un.org. Published January 2, 2024. https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/01/1145227

7.Oxfam. Starvation as weapon of war being used against Gaza civilians – Oxfam. Oxfamamerica.org. Published October 25, 2023. Accessed January 5, 2024. https://www.oxfamamerica.org/press/press-releases/starvation-as-weapon-of-war-being-used-against-gaza-civilians-oxfam/

8.United Nations. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. United Nations; 1948. https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/documents/atrocity-crimes/Doc.1_Convention%20on%20the%20Prevention%20and%20Punishment%20of%20the%20Crime%20of%20Genocide.pdf

9.International Court of Justice. Proceedings instituted by South Africa against the State of Israel on 29 December 2023. Accessed January 5, 2024. https://www.icj-cij.org/case/192

10.United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner. Gaza: UN experts call on international community to prevent genocide against the Palestinian people. United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner. Published November 16, 2023. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/11/gaza-un-experts-call-international-community-prevent-genocide-against

11.Center for Constitutional Rights. Israel’s Unfolding Crime of Genocide of the Palestinian People & U.S. Failure to Prevent and Complicity in Genocide. Center for Constitutional Rights. Published October 18, 2023. https://ccrjustice.org/israel-s-unfolding-crime-genocide-palestinian-people-us-failure-prevent-and-complicity-genocide

12.Jewish Voice for Peace. President Biden, call a ceasefire now. JVP. Accessed January 5, 2024. https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/resource/ceasefire/

13.Data for Progress. Voters Want the U.S. to Call for a Permanent Ceasefire in Gaza and to Prioritize Diplomacy. Accessed January 5^th, 2024. https://www.dataforprogress.org/blog/2023/12/5/voters-want-the-us-to-call-for-a-permanent-ceasefire-in-gaza-and-to-prioritize-diplomacy