Jewish Voice for Peace Central Ohio and allied organizations are calling on Columbus City Council to pass a resolution calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Israel and occupied Palestine, the return of all hostages including Palestinian prisoners in Israeli military prisons, and unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid; and condemning antisemitism and anti-Palestinian racism.

The Israeli government is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. They've killed over 28,473 people including more than 12,300 children in a matter of months, reduced entire neighborhoods to rubble, carried out hundreds of attacks on hospitals and essential medical infrastructure, and destroyed heritage sites, schools, and places of worship. Eighty-five percent of Gaza's population — 1.9 million people — have been forced to flee their homes.

There is no justification in international law for the targeting of civilians or the holding of civilian hostages. That was true when Hamas attacked Israeli civilians. We must apply that same standard to the Israeli military as it inflicts incomprehensible suffering on a captive population in Gaza.

The unthinkable becomes acceptable when we deny people their humanity. We mourn for the Palestinian and Israeli lives lost, and we continue to fight with everything we have to bring this devastating violence to an immediate end. We are asking all our friends in Columbus to sign this petition to show the overwhelming support for Columbus City Council to pass a ceasefire resolution.

Co-Signing Organizations:

Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) Central Ohio

Sunrise Movement Columbus

Columbus Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)

Palestinian Liberation Movement (PLM) - Justice Unity and Social Transformation (JUST)

Black Queer & Intersectional Collective (BQIC) Ohio

Standing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) Central Ohio

Ohio Youth for Climate Justice (OHYCJ)