City Council expected to vote on Gaza cease-fire resolution | #citycouncil

City Council could debate a resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza at its first meeting in 2024.

The move would be at least a partial victory for activists who have packed council chambers in the past two months demanding that council take a stand as the death toll in Gaza has climbed.

Council members Teri Castillo, Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and Manny Peláez on Wednesday requested a special meeting on Jan. 11 to vote on a resolution that would call for “an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Israel and Palestine and the return of all hostages immediately,” according to a memo they sent to Mayor Ron Nirenberg.

Nirenberg declined to comment. His spokesperson shared a memo that the mayor sent council confirming that he’d ask City Manager Erik Walsh to schedule the meeting once Castillo, McKee-Rodriguez and Peláez submit a proposed resolution for their colleagues to consider.

Peláez said the resolution language will mirror the memo and won’t be longer than a sentence.

“I believe that San Antonians will agree that no parent should every bury their children, that every life is sacred, that nobody should be killing anybody and that those hostages should all go home to their loved ones,” Peláez said. “Period. No context. It’s the context that has people talking past each other as opposed to talking to each other.”

Peláez said his motivation for taking action now is to ease the anxieties and fear the war has caused the diverse religious communities in his North Side district — and not because of pressure from activists who have spoken up at council’s public comment sessions.

San Antonio Justice for Palestine, whose members have been among these speakers, welcomed the resolution.

“This is a big moment for our city and we ask each one of you who stands with Palestine in the 210 to come out and deliver your message of solidarity,” the group said in a statement. “We must mobilize big and win this vote.”

Nirenberg told the Express-News in early November that he had no plans to push for a resolution calling for a cease-fire because San Antonio does “not have a role militarily” in the conflict. He also rejected speakers’ calls to end San Antonio’s friendship agreement with Tel Aviv, which has been in effect for more than a decade.

After the Hamas militant group’s surprise Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, which killed about 1,200 people, Nirenberg introduced a proclamation at a City Council meeting on Oct. 12 in support of Israel. The proclamation condemned “Hamas terrorists’ act of war.”

City Hall’s facade was lit blue in support of Israel from Oct. 12-30, at Nirenberg’s request.

In response to the attacks, Israel has heavily bombed the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, killing more than 20,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. During a brief halt in hostilities, Hamas freed more than 100 hostages it abducted from Israel. About 120 hostages remain in Gaza.

Hamas has ruled out further hostage releases until the fighting stops, the BBC reported.

In recent weeks, city councils across the U.S. have passed resolutions calling for a cease-fire in Gaza, including in Detroit, Seattle and Atlanta.

Three San Antonio City Council members have publicly called for a cease-fire since October: McKee-Rodriguez of District 2, Castillo of District 5, and Councilwoman Sukh Kaur of District 1.

Nammie Ichilov, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of San Antonio, urged the City Council to reconsider passing a cease-fire resolution.

“During these incredibly difficult and emotional times, the Jewish community feels the pain and anguish for the loss of all innocent lives,” Ichilov said in a statement. “Unfortunately, taking a local position on an ancient struggle on the other side of the world is more likely to fan the flames of local pain and suffering, and raise the associated dangers for acts of hate and prejudice.”