HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-020 Humanitarian Aid in GazaRESOLUTION NO. 2024-20 FOR CEASEFIRE AND HUMANITARIAN AID IN GAZA
A resolution of the City Council for the City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota,
WHEREAS, all human life is precious, and the targeting of civilians, irrespective of their faith or
ethnicity, constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law;
WHEREAS, the United Nations General Assembly, in a near -unanimous vote on October 26t", called for
an immediate and sustained humanitarian ceasefire;
WHEREAS, the Federal Government of the United States possesses significant diplomatic and
appropriations powers capable of safeguarding Palestinian and Israeli lives;
WHEREAS, on January 26, 2024, the International Court of Justice indicated the following provisional
measures:
(1) The State of Israel shall, in accordance with its obligations under the Convention on the
Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, in relation to Palestinians in Gaza,
take all measures within its power to prevent the commission of all acts within the scope of
Article II of this Convention, in particular:
(a) killing members of the group;
(b) causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
(c) deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical
destruction in whole or in part; and
(d) imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
(2) The State of Israel shall ensure with immediate effect that its military does not commit any
acts described in point 1 above;
(3) The State of Israel shall take all measures within its power to prevent and punish the direct
and public incitement to commit genocide in relation to members of the Palestinian group
in the Gaza Strip;
(4) The State of Israel shall take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of
urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse
conditions of life faced by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip;
(5) The State of Israel shall take effective measures to prevent the destruction and ensure the
preservation of evidence related to allegations of acts within the scope of Article II and
Article III of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
against members of the Palestinian group in the Gaza Strip;
(6) The State of Israel shall submit a report to the Court on all measures taken to give effect to
this Order within one month as from the date of this Order;
WHEREAS, the temporary truce that ended on Friday, December 11t, underscored the necessity of a
negotiated ceasefire to release hostages, deliver aid, cease bombing, and save lives;
WHEREAS, we mourn the devastating loss of life among Palestinian and Israeli civilians since October 7
and denounce all indiscriminate killing of civilians;
WHEREAS, according to the Gaza based Health Ministry, over the last four months, the conflict has
claimed over 27,000 Palestinian lives, including over 12,600 children;
WHEREAS, our constituents, many of whom fear for their loved ones, have unequivocally expressed
their desire to end this violence and demand immediate U.S. action to call for ceasefire;
WHEREAS, we support peace and must demand a ceasefire now to work towards a future without
Israeli military occupation and siege, where all Palestinians and Israelis can live in freedom and dignity.
NOW, THERFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Columbia Heights, Minnesota, calls upon our U.S.
Congressional delegation, both in the Senate and House of Representatives, to join us in:
Urging the Biden administration to immediately call for and facilitate de-escalation and a
ceasefire to end the genocide in Gaza;
Call upon the Biden administration to promptly send and facilitate the entry of humanitarian
assistance into Gaza on the necessary scale;
Call upon the Biden administration to halt all U.S. weapons shipments to Israel that may be
used in a manner inconsistent with the International Court of Justice demands for immediate
and effective implementation of the provisional measures delineated in its January 26 order.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota, reaffirms its support for all
residents and condemns all forms of racism, Islamophobia, Anti-Semitism, anti -Arab racism, bigotry,
and discrimination
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Columbia Heights supports the U.S. Congress Resolution H.R.
786 and joins other cities in calling on our Congress Members to demand and immediate ceasefire,
release of all hostages, the unrestricted entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza; the restoration of
food, water, electricity, and medical supplies to Gaza; and the respect for international law; and calls
for a resolution that protects the security of all innocent civilians; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Columbia Heights City Council directs city staff to expeditiously
dispatch copies of this resolution to President Joe Biden, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, Senator
Amy Klobuchar, Senator Tina Smith, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, Representative Erin Koegel and
Sandra Feist, Senator Mary Kunesh of the Minnesota State Assembly, Governor Tim Walz, Lt. Gov.
Peggy Flanagan, and Attorney General Keith Ellison
We, the undersigned Columbia Heights City Council members, urge the Biden administration to
immediately call for and work to facilitate a permanent ceasefire to halt the ongoing violence in Israel
and occupied Palestinian territory. We call for a lasting ceasefire and end to the siege on Gaza now.
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. The City Council hereby approves
ORDER OF COUNCIL
Passed this 26th day of February 2024
Offered by: Buesgens
Seconded by: James
Roll Call: Ayes: Buesgens, James, Spriggs, Marquez Simula
No: Jacobs
A da Marquez -Sim , Mayor
Attest:
ra Ion, City Clerk