An expert fills us in on what these resolutions aim to accomplish.
As you’ve tuned into news regarding the Israel-Hamas War, you may have noticed a burgeoning trend: Dozens of U.S. cities are increasingly passing cease-fire resolutions. Meaning that individual municipalities (or, in some cases, counties) are voting on whether or not to call for a humanitarian cease-fire — in other words, an end to the conflict in Israel and Palestine. Many of these resolutions also call for the release of hostages and an increase in aid for Gaza.
But cities like Hollister, Calif. or Ypsilanti, Mich. don’t typically influence international politics. So why are cities of all sizes taking steps to pass these resolutions — and what do these decisions actually accomplish? Plus, which cities have passed resolutions in the months since the conflict began? We’ve got more — read on.
Why are cities calling a cease-fire resolution?
In the six months that have passed since Hamas’ October 7 attack, over 100 Israeli civilians are still being held hostage by Hamas. In Gaza, 34,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry. As Israel has carried out near-daily air raids on the city of Rafah, the stakes of reaching a deal to pause the fighting and release the hostages are growing higher by the minute. Then, there’s the growing threat that Gaza is on the brink of famine. In the U.S., the House passed a $95 million aid package on Saturday; the package includes military aid to Ukraine and Israel, but it also includes humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. Plus, earlier this month, President Biden called for an “immediate cease-fire” in Gaza. The conflict is dense, to say the least.
Beth Miller, political director for Jewish Voice for Peace, told us in March, “Polls show that 60 percent of American voters and 80 percent of Democratic voters are in favor of a cease-fire.” And while a given city passing a resolution might not impact foreign relations, Miller clarified that the cease-fire resolutions are a form of protest that magnifies that outlook: “Cease-fire resolutions at the municipal level are one way to amplify the voices of the majority of American voters who support a permanent cease-fire…These initiatives send a message to our members of Congress and the Biden administration around what their voters want.”
What do city cease-fire resolutions accomplish?
These city-wide resolutions won’t directly affect either national or international policy. On March 25, when the U.N. Security Council demanded a humanitarian cease-fire for the month of Ramadan, the U.S. actually abstained. The U.S. delegation didn’t agree with all aspects of the resolution, and clarified that the Council would have to clearly demand that the release of all hostages be included in a potential cease-fire.
But cease-fire resolutions can apply pressure to Congress and the Biden administration; plus. Miller said that these local resolutions can raise awareness about the war for those who don’t know much about the conflict: “Local ceasefire resolutions help educate communities about what is happening in Palestine and Israel.”
That said, Miller clarified that the initiatives aren’t solely symbolic — they “can pave the way for city councils to take further action.”
She adds that while many people think the Israel-Hamas war is just a foreign policy issue, it does have impacts here at home. As an example, Miller said that city governments may start implementing boycotts that could escalate the initiatives, such as divesting from or prohibiting investment in Israeli bonds.
Miller concedes that, despite the polls, there are plenty of opponents to the initiatives. She also believes, however, that the resolutions have the potential to open a dialogue about the war: “Our communities can’t live in fear of debate and uncomfortable conversations,” she says.
U.S. Cities Calling for a Cease-Fire in Gaza
California
Albany, CA
Alhambra, CA
Arcata, CA
Bell Gardens, CA
Cotati, CA
Folsom, CA
Fort Bragg, CA
Davis, CA
El Monte, CA
Brentwood, CA
Richmond, CA
Oakland, CA
Ojai, CA
Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board, CA
New Haven Unified School District, Union City, CA
San Francisco, CA
Hollister, CA
Madera, CA
Montebello, CA
Pomona, CA
Pasadena, CA
Sacramento, CA
Santa Ana, CA
Cudahy, CA
Long Beach, CA
Lemon Grove, CA
Laguna Beach, CA
Kerman, CA
Colorado
Glenwood Springs, CO
Connecticut
Bridgeport, CT
Delaware
Wilmington, DE
Georgia
Atlanta, GA
Indiana
Bloomington, IN
Illinois
Chicago, IL
Iowa
Iowa City, IA
Coralville, IA
Kansas
Lawrence, KS
Maine
Portland, Maine
Massachusetts
Amherst, MA
Medford, MA
Greenfield, MA
Somerville, MA
Cambridge, MA
Easthampton, MA
Michigan
Kalamazoo, MI
Lansing, MI
Ypsilanti, MI
Washtenaw County, MI
Ann Arbor, MI
Canton Township, MI
Wayne County, MI
Dearborn Heights, MI
Dearborn, MI
Hamtramck, MI
Detroit, MI
Minnesota
Red Lake Nation
Minneapolis, MN
Moorhead, MN
Hastings, MN
St. Paul, MN
Missouri
St. Louis, MO
New Jersey
Union City, NJ
Prospect Park, NJ
Paterson, NJ
Haledon, NJ
New York
Albany, NY
Beacon, NY
Newburgh, NY
North Carolina
Greensboro, NC
Carboro, NC
Durham, NC
Ohio
Athens, OH
Cleveland, OH
Dayton, OH
Akron, OH
Oregon
Eugene, OR
Pennsylvania
State College, PA
Rhode Island
Providence, RI
Washington
Bellingham, Washington
Port Townsend, WA
Seattle, WA
Jefferson County, WA
Olympia, WA
Wisconsin
Madison, WI
