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Boston City Council approves resolution for Gaza ceasefire - and release of Hamas hostages

The City Council voted 11-2 today for a resolution, sponsored by Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson (Roxbury) calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of humanitarian aid for the region, the release of Israelis held hostage by Hamas and the reconstruction of Gaza.

Councilors Ed Flynn (South Boston, South End, Chinatown, Downtown) and Erin Murphy (at large) cast the no votes.

The resolution states:

That the City of Boston calls for immediate and permanent ceasefire in Israel and Palestine, an end to the bombing of Gaza, the freeing of all hostages from Hamas and the freeing of all administrative detainees held by Israel, lifting all barriers to the provision of humanitarian assistance at scale to meet the full needs of the population of Gaza, in line with international law, the resumption of U.S. funding of UNRWA, the rebuilding of the schools, homes, mosques, churches, and other structures destroyed in this conflict, enforcement of US and international laws requiring recipients of US military assistance comply with human rights standards and international humanitarian law, and the beginning of a process of repair and reconciliation for all impacted by the violence in the region including the advancement safety and dignity for all Israelis and Palestinians.

Councilor Ben Weber (Jamaica Plain, West Roxbury), the council's only Jewish member, said he supported the resolution by Fernandes Anderson, the council's only Muslim member, and said he hoped it would help lead to "an awakening and a realization that the only path forward is one of coexistence."

Weber said he has heard from both Palestinian constituents near tears, who "can't believe US dollars are going towards the suffering of their relatives," but also from Jewish constituents who say they not only don't feel the horror of the Hamas terror attacks on Oct. 7 are being properly recognized but that some "don't feel welcome in a neighborhood they have lived in for over a decade."

Councilor Liz Breadon (Allston/Brighton), who grew up in Northern Ireland at the start of the Troubles, pointed to the work to end that in saying that a ceasefire is vital, but addd that "it is not going to be the end, it is the beginning, it is the beginning of the beginning."

Council President Ruthzee Louijeune (at large), who is Haitian-American, acknowledged that the work of the city council is to work on "potholes and schools" and city budgeting, but that as somebody who keeps watching atrocities in Haiti, she can't turn away and say nothing about the horrors of both Oct. 7 and, more recently, videos of young kids in Gaza who have lost their parents, their siblings, everything, in unending Israeli attacks.

Councilors Sharon Durkan (Back Bay, Fenway, Mission Hill, Beacon Hill) and Gabriela Coletta (North End, East Boston, Charlestown) both said they fully supported the goals of the resolution, but emphasized they denounce the anti-Semitism they have seen since Oct. 7. Coletta specifically denounced "calls for the annihilation of Israel or attacks on Jewish people."

Flynn said the City Council has more important, critical local issues to deal with, including public safety, neighborhood services and "getting our economy back."

Murphy agreed that "all life is precious and war is horrible," but that she could not vote for a resolution like this the day after Passover ended, because she head from Jewish constituents that they did not even hear the resolution would be up for consideration until this morning.

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Comments

How about sticking to the city business, such as questioning the disproportionate use of police force under phony pretexts?

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Wu and Cox won't be sending the police into Emerson, BU, etc like the TPF going into the Rabbit Inn.

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acknowledged that the work of the city council is to work on "potholes and schools" and city budgeting, but that as somebody who keeps watching atrocities in Haiti, she can't turn away and say nothing about the horrors of both Oct. 7

Why not just address all conflicts at once and pass a resolution demanding worldwide peace, freedom, and an end to all suffering?

Alternatively, maybe the council should devote themselves entirely to addressing only the world's most pressing problems. It's unfathomable to think of all the suffering in the world and yet the Boston city council is often concerned with only matters that only affect 0.008% of people on this planet.

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I dunno, maybe the city council is addressing this now because there is only one conflict that is currently causing dissenters to block traffic, march the streets of Boston, and build protest encampments at colleges across the country? These actions prompt BPD to bloody themselves and protestors via brute force confrontations approved by the progressive Mayor Wu.

Oh, and the fact that this topic is and has been the #1 topic in the daily news cycle, locally and nationally, for 1-2 weeks now?

I mean, the timing on this voteis not a head-scratcher if we're being honest with ourselves. This resolution isn't about solving Middle East peace, it's addressing the unrest at home.

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Bla bla bla bla bla bla bla

GFY k thx

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We all saw it, we all saw the power washing of the blood.

You choose to lick boots, but it couldn't be me.

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Strong words, bandwagon jumper.

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. . .to jump on the bandwagon of justice and peace.

You’re welcome to join us when you’re ready.

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a useful dupe for the Iranian state who is funding most of these “Palestinian” agitators and your self- importance is laughable. Go fuck yourself, yet again, you braindead rightwing pig.

Does Israel have a right to exist? Yes or no. Very simple question.

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Yes, Israel has a right to exist. No, the Israeli government does not have the right to commit war crimes and human atrocities with impunity.

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Now do Iran.

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But the government of Iran is evil and I’m looking forward to the day when the Iranian people are free.

Eat shit.

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Otherwise you wouldn't be carrying their water. Right? Right.

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Otherwise you wouldn't be carrying the water of the baby-eaters.

See how easy that was?

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Tell me why Hamas i.e. Iran i.e. you just refused the cease fire Blinken offered. Try doing it with your overweening self-regard intact, you dreg.

I really don’t have any words for my contempt for you. I hope the cops crack down on you hard.

End transmission, we’re finished here.

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Hamas i.e. Iran i.e. you

You're a complete asshole who doesn't belong in the same space as grownups, Go back to the kiddie table until you've learned not to fling your poo.

I really don’t have any words for my contempt for you. I hope the cops crack down on you hard.

Since you're hoping the cops "crack down on me hard" for not committing a crime, I hope they do the same to you. Didn't commit a crime? Tough shit, you're getting rough-rided. See how this works?

I'm in favor of lead abatement, but clearly it's too late to help you, ya throbbing-veined rage addict.

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Iran's the one that gets constant blank checks and unconditional cheerleading from the US government, right? Or am I still thinking about Israel

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Are we providing arms* and billions of dollars in aid to Iran for their war crimes?

*Other than shady deals from the Reagan administration in the 80's I mean...

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This resolution isn't about solving Middle East peace, it's addressing the unrest at home.

So why not actually focus on unrest at home?

There are some real issues before the city as it relates to how best to use the Boston police department, use public spaces, rights of people to protest, etc. But that's a hard, complex topic so the council is instead spending time on symbolic, meaningless resolutions.

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What should the Council focus on regarding Palestine? Denouncing the police? Praising the protestors? Chastizing university leadership?

The resolution today was the only viable path.

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The resolution today is the only viable path for a group that has nothing of value to offer.

There is absolutely nothing for the council to do as it related to Palestine or Israel.

They don't need to praise or denounce anyone. They need to say they care about the right for people to peacefully protest about any issue while ensuring the police act responsibly while respecting the rights of people who do not want to become involved with the protest.

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Everyone says they "agree to the right to peaceful protest," even the authoritarians. We heard it over and over in 2020. It's gutless.

With all the pro-Palestinian demonstrations blocking traffic or happening on city or private university property across the city, it's quite reasonable for constituents to expect the council to use their platform and make a statement. If those councilors believe in a ceasefire and the immediate freeing of hostages, they should stand by their constituents who believe the same.

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There's a whole lot of people who were in DC on January 6th 2021 who agree with you that non-peaceful protests are the only way to bring actual change.

Do you support politicians who support the insurgents on the basis of "these are matters which are important to our constituents"?

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Where did I endorse non-peaceful protests? Please quote.

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Everyone says they "agree to the right to peaceful protest," even the authoritarians. We heard it over and over in 2020. It's gutless.

If it's gutless to support the right for peaceful protests, what takes guts? Voting for a symbolic resolution encouraging peace? Supporting non-peaceful protests?

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You’re putting words in my mouth and creating a straw man.

It’s gutless to only support “peaceful protest” because everyone from Angela Davis to Donald Trump extol the virtues of peaceful protest. It takes as much courage to support peaceful protest as it does to oppose the rouge executions of cute puppies. A resolution supporting peaceful protest is as helpful as a resolution denouncing child abuse. In other words, gutless.

The city council stood up for their values. They value a cease fire in Palestine and a release of all hostages. And that is not gutless.

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I think you mean pro-Hamas

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I don’t.

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So why not actually focus on unrest at home?

Because the reason for the "unrest at home" is the war in Gaza. Kinda hard to "focus on unrest at home" without dealing with the reason why it's happening.

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This is a silly waste of time for virtue signaling.

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sure, but wouldn’t abstaining send that message more clearly than voting no?

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… about anything other than no comment.

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”as city councilor, my opinion is that this vote is a waste of the council’s time and resources. as such, i will not lend any legitimacy to this resolution by voting on it.”

instead, it seems the no votes did a bit of signaling their own virtues.

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… hedging his bet.

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Is a perfect description.

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Israelis and Palestinians?

KNOCK IT OFF

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And no one cares.
Just like every other city council who passed a resolution.

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.

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#AbolishTheCityCouncil

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.

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The fact she is the most useless councilor in the chamber. Good for Ed and Erin not giving this waste of time any acknowledgement.

You’re a city councilor, not a representative of the UN, sit down Tania.

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IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/vuzJ52G.png)

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This conflict didn't start with the horrific attack on Oct. 7th, as much as Netanyahu and apparently the ADL wants you to think it did.

An apartheid state, imposed by violence, will never be a peaceful state for long

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While this event wasn't the start either, you can learn a lot about its history from the Hebron massacre of 1929, 19 years before the foundation of the modern State of Israel.

On hearing screams in a room, I went up a sort of tunnel passage and saw an Arab in the act of cutting off a child's head with a sword. He had already hit him and was having another cut, but on seeing me he tried to aim the stroke at me, but missed; he was practically on the muzzle of my rifle. I shot him low in the groin. Behind him was a Jewish woman smothered in blood with a man I recognized as a[n Arab] police constable named Issa Sheriff from Jaffa. He was standing over the woman with a dagger in his hand. He saw me and bolted into a room close by and tried to shut me out-shouting in Arabic, "Your Honor, I am a policeman." ... I got into the room and shot him.
- Police Superintendent Raymond Cafferata

This was far from unusual in the Arab world. For instance, Constantine, Algeria in 1934 (14 years before the foundation of the modern State of Israel):
IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/PCyHE4Z.jpeg)

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I can link you to plenty of past israeli atrocities too. Do you think it justifies decades of apartheid, land theft, and ongoing genocide?

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A minority people who have been endlessly persecuted winning the right to self governance on their ancestral lands - for good reason - is none of those words you used. It's an indigenous-led land-back revolution. What do you think that means; a status quo where people can still persecute them without reprise? Grow up.

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A minority people who have been endlessly persecuted winning the right to self governance on their ancestral lands - for good reason - is none of those words you used. It's an indigenous-led land-back revolution.

Even if one accepts everything you said here unchallenged (which no one should), that does not grant the victors the right to impose apartheid on the losers for over half a century.

It also does not excuse the ongoing genocide, happening while the world watches, no matter how you try to spin it to make yourself feel better.

"Grow Up" is an interesting choice of words here, friend. I guess anyone who is against their tax dollars being used to commit crimes against humanity is a child to you.

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Is a Native American reservation a form of apartheid imposed by them on American citizens? They have their own laws and communities and even I, as someone born in this country and whose parents and grandparents were born in this country, can't just decide unilaterally to join their society - they would have to let me in, and because of my ethnic background, they likely wouldn't.

Should we dismantle the res system and integrate that racially segregated apartheid society into the US?

(There is not a genocide happening in Gaza. By contrast, the civilian to combatant death ratio may be one of the lowest in modern history. The group attempting genocide is Hamas.)

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You're so close to getting it. You bring up the political evidence of America's historical genocide of native peoples and forced relocation to make... what point, exactly?

Do you think Israel should also murder greater than 90% of the Palestinians and force the remainder off their lands into arid, non-existent unpopulated areas of Palestine? 100 years later, there's almost no organized native attacks on people of european heritage anymore, so I guess that's a win for you?

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The Native American experience has a lot in common with that of the Israelites. Both are native for thousands of years to a land that was repeatedly invaded and ruled over by colonial empires (such as the Seleucids and Romans) and whose people were relocated to less desirable areas or taken as slaves to other places. But just because some American Indians were marched away on the Trail of Tears, that doesn't make them no longer the indigenous people, or their colonizers the real indigenous ones. Same goes for Judea. Arabs first arrived in military conquests in the 7th century, but the land was a barren wasteland during Ottoman rule, as attested to by historical observers like Mark Twain. It wasn't until Zionist Jews returned to their homeland in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and joined existing Jewish communities who never left, that Arabs moved into the land in greater numbers. The reason is that the returning Jews who purchased land there dismantled the colonial Ottoman railroads and drained the malarial swamps, making it healthy and arable. More recently, much of the "Nakba" was driven by leaders of other Arab nations urging Arabs to leave temporarily to facilitate exterminating all the Jews - Arabs who didn't leave became full citizens of Israel. No genocide, no apartheid, just a series of bad genocidal decisions on part of the nations that waged war on Israel.

So while Arabs there started identifying as "Palestinian" in the 1960s, it's true that many of those people date back to the area for a hundred and fifty years, when their families immigrated from Egypt (al-Masri), Turkey (al-Turk), and elsewhere. My family's experience in this country has a similar timeframe. I'm as indigenous to Massachusetts as Arabs are to Judea. Do you oppose returning lands to native people?

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Hospital records show that 58% of +30,000 deaths in Gaza are women and children. It’s ghoulish to call that low.

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Are those records from a Hamas-controlled source, or non? What percentage of the Gazan population is 30,000? How does that compare to other urban wars, including those waged by the USA?

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You can win any argument when you choose to decide something is fake news.

This is what the UN reported, by the way. But I guess you think they're fake news, too.

Furthermore, the IDF is assassinating Palestinian journalists and will not allow foreign journalists to document Israeli atrocities. Maybe the world could get more accurate information if Israel wasn't surpressing the free press.

Gaza: Number of children killed higher than from four years of world conflict.

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Don't really know what else to say. The UN is quoting the fake Hamas numbers. The numbers are statistically implausible and seem to be clearly fabricated. Hamas themselves just admitted that 10,000 entries from a Google Form can't be accounted for.

https://fathomjournal.org/statistically-impossible-a-critical-analysis-o...

https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/how-gaza-health-ministr...

https://www.jns.org/hamas-health-ministry-cant-find-10000-names-of-those...

I don't like the fact that people are dying either. Maybe Hamas shouldn't have started this war on 10/7. Here's a West Point expert in urban warfare studies who is stating that rather than committing a genocide, Israel is doing more to secure civilian lives than any other party in modern history.

https://www.newsweek.com/israel-implemented-more-measures-prevent-civili...

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So does no one see the irony of the younger Flynn taking a stand against resolutions on international issues while his Dad is now looked back on favorably for having supported the City Council's ordinance against companies with investments in South Africa during Apartheid? He also backed Charles Laquidera's Shell boycott in support of the same cause (even though it was entirely symbolic since the city of Boston had like $1,200 worth of annual business with Shell companies at the time - so, virtue signaling before the term was coined, I guess).

Maybe if South Africa just invested a little more in tours of their country (and donations to campaigns) they could have stirred up a bit more support for their cause, like some other countries do with their lobbyists.

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