We, the undersigned, call upon the Middletown City Council to pass a resolution in support of a permanent ceasefire in Gaza as written below:

MEMORIALIZING RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MIDDLETOWN, NEW YORK IN SUPPORT OF A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IN ISRAEL AND PALESTINE.

WHEREAS, the City of Middletown is united against all forms of violence and recognizes that all life is precious; and

WHEREAS, the City of Middletown is committed to being a safe and welcoming community that actively promotes peace, unity and respect for all residents and community members; and

WHEREAS, the City of Middletown condemns all forms of discrimination, including but not limited to antisemitism and anti-Arab racism, Islamophobia, fascism, anti-Black racism, white supremacy, anti-indigeneity, and xenophobia throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, we express profound sorrow and condemnation for the tragic loss of both Palestinian and Israeli civilians, including children and elderly; and

WHEREAS, the City of Middletown strongly denounces the indiscriminate retaliation by the State of Israel following October 7th, 2023, which has resulted in the collective punishment upon the civilian population of Gaza; and

WHEREAS, the official death toll in Gaza provided by the territory's health authorities is nearing 41,000, although a recent article in the trusted Lancet medical journal estimated the true number could be as high as 186,000 or more; and

WHEREAS, numerous hospitals, schools, homes, mosques, water wells, churches, and UN facilities – including shelters – have been extensively bombed, even when crowded with civilians seeking refuge; and

WHEREAS, over two million lives are at imminent risk if a permanent ceasefire is not achieved and continuous humanitarian aid is not assured; and

WHEREAS, the United States Federal Government and Members of Congress hold immense diplomatic, military, and financial power to save Palestinian and Israeli lives,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Middletown calls on our elected federal and state officials representing our city and state to:

1. Demand and implement an immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza;

2. Send and facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza; and

3. Support an arms embargo and measures to end U.S. military aid to Israel, transferring allocated but unspent funds to local domestic community needs (e.g. housing, childcare, education, etc.); and

4. Condemn Israel's indiscriminate killing of civilians and use of collective punishment, as well as all forms of Islamophobia, xenophobia, antisemitism, and anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian racism.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City of Middletown joins people of all faiths, major humanitarian organizations, and over one-hundred U.S. city and town councils in calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City of Middletown supports unrestricted entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, the restoration of electricity, water, food, and medical supplies to Gaza; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City of Middletown calls for an end to the siege and blockade of Gaza, and upholds respect for international law by all parties; such as the release of all Palestinian and Israeli hostages, not excluding the thousands of Palestinians arbitrarily detained by the State of Israel.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that upon passage, the City Clerk is directed to send a copy of this Resolution to the Office of U.S. President Joe Biden, the Office of New York Governor Kathy Hochul, the Office of U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, the Office of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the Office of U.S. Representative Patrick Ryan, the Office of State Senator James Skoufis, the Office of State Assemblyman Aileen Gunther, the Office of Orange County Executive Stephen Neuhaus, and Orange County Legislative Chairwoman Katherine Bonelli.