Label
ISRAEL/PALESTINE WAR
CITY COUNCIL
COUNCILMEMBER KOMIVES
Title
A Resolution asserting Toledo City Council’s expressed sympathy for the innocent civilians victimized by the war in Israel and Palestine; condemning violence of any kind; affirming Toledo’s status as a Certified Welcoming Community for those of the Jewish, Islamic, and all other religions; encouraging residents to offer support and sincere condolences to members of the Jewish and Palestinian communities of Toledo and all over the world.
Summary
SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
WHEREAS, on October 7, 2023 the deadly terrorist organization named Hamas and other militants took around 240 people hostage and killed 1,139 people sparking an assault throughout Israel and Palestine; and
WHEREAS, the conflict in Israel and Palestine has continued for more than 100 years; and
WHEREAS, since October 7, more than 24,447 Palestinians, more than 9,600 of whom are children, have been killed because of this violence; and
WHEREAS, Gaza is in a dire humanitarian crisis that is getting worse with each passing day, with the only remaining hospitals running out of fuel and medical supplies, and over 1.5 million Palestinians facing displacement, homelessness, and starvation; and
WHEREAS, international organizations like Amnesty International, the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the International Rescue Committee, and many others have made a call for a ceasefire in order to prevent the further loss of life of civilians and to be in accordance with international humanitarian law; and
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; and
WHEREAS, the United States government and our elected leaders hold immense diplomatic power to save Israeli and Palestinian lives; and
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 thousands of people in the Midwest have joined in peaceful protests since October 7 to amplify this call; and
WHEREAS, a decapitated baby doll was found underneath a Palestinian flag in a Greater Toledo
Palestinian resident’s yard, and Jewish synagogues in Greater Toledo received three bomb threats, and Israeli flags were stolen from a Greater Toledo Jewish resident’s yard multiple times; and
WHEREAS, the Toledo City Council has the ability to influence Ohio’s federal delegation to call for an immediate long-term ceasefire to stop the violence, the safe return of all hostages, and the delivery of adequate humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people without delay in order to prevent the loss of hundreds of thousands more lives.
NOW THEREFORE, Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1: The Toledo City Council expresses concern over the ongoing violence and its potential for further escalation and calls for an immediate ceasefire to stop the killing of thousands of innocent civilians.
SECTION 2: The City of Toledo condemns the recent rise of Antisemitic, Islamophobic, racist, homophobic, and xenophobic attacks in our city and across the nation, including the doxing of elected officials, students, professors, journalists, and others speaking truth to power.
SECTION 3: The City of Toledo recognizes that the current crisis takes place within a long history and affirms that, for a pathway to lasting peace and justice to be developed, the root causes of the crisis need to be addressed.
SECTION 4: The Toledo City Council supports the urgent appeal for the establishment of humanitarian corridors to ensure the unimpeded delivery of much-needed aid and the reinstatement of essential services to the beleaguered region.
SECTION 5: The Toledo City Council passionately urges the swift and secure return of all hostages, emphasizing the critical importance of safeguarding their well-being.
SECTION 6: That this Resolution shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.
Adopted _________________, as an emergency measure: yeas _____, nays _____.
Attest: ________________________ __________________________________
Clerk of Council President of Council
Approved: _____________________ __________________________________
Mayor
I hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of an Ordinance passed by Council ________________________.
Attest: ________________________
Clerk of Council