Six months into the United States-backed Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, occupied Palestine, more than 33,000 people have been killed and 76,000 wounded by Israeli state forces, the vast majority of them women and children. The entire Gazan population is subjected to starvation, thirst, lack of adequate medical care, and disease by the Israeli government who have simultaneously blocked necessary aid from entering the strip while constantly bombarding all types of civilian infrastructure including hospitals, UN aid buildings, medical personnel and equipment.

It is long overdue for our city to pass THIS resolution that calls for:

• an immediate and permanent CEASEFIRE

• an end of offensive military assistance and weapons sales to the government of Israel

• the prompt release of all hostages

• the unrestricted entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, the restoration of food, water, electricity, and medical supplies to Gaza;

• and full respect for international law by all involved parties, including an end to illegal occupation.

By now, over 100 local jurisdictions around the country, including the Santa Rosas School Board, Cotati, Fort Bragg, Richmond, Oakland, Albany, have passed ceasefire resolutions which send a direct message to state and federal elected officials to use their power to STOP THE ONGOING GENOCIDE in GAZA. Over 30 House Democrats including Nancy Pelosi have called for a ceasefire and halt to weapons sales.

We demand that Sonoma join the millions of people around the world, including the United Nations, the vast majority of UN member states, the Sonoma County Democratic Party, hundreds of international and local labor unions in solidarity with Palestine, including the North Bay Labor Council representing over 70,000 union members in Marin, Sonoma, Mendocino, and Lake Counties, the AFL-CIO, SEIU, UAW, Unite Here, the IFPTE, Oakland Education Association.