DURHAM DRAFT RESOLUTION

(This is the draft written by UE 150 and community orgs; not the one introduced by council. We have to push to ensure the include our core demands in their language on FEB 8th and 19th)

A resolution calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in all of Historic Palestine (West Bank, Gaza Strip and Israel), an end to U.S. aid and arms to Israel, lifting the siege on Gaza to allow immediate and sufficient humanitarian aid to enter, the release of ALL hostages held in Israel and Gaza, an end to Israel’s genocide of Palestinians, and an end to the Occupation of Palestine

WHEREAS, all life is precious, the targeting of civilians is a violation of international humanitarian law, and Durham’s Civil Rights heritage calls elected officials and residents alike to stand united to protect life and stop violence; and

 WHEREAS, the City of Durham advocates for the safety, dignity, freedom, and equality of all people, regardless of religion, race, or nationality, and was the first city in the U.S. to unanimously vote to prohibit police exchanges and military-style training with Israel; and

WHEREAS, the City of Durham passed a resolution in opposition to South African Apartheid in 1981,South Africa believes Israel should be classified as an Apartheid State, and a Human Rights Watch investigation found that Israel is committing the crimes against humanity of apartheid and persecution against Palestinians.^[1] [2]; and

WHEREAS, the City of Durham recognizes that the current crisis in Palestine and Israel takes place within a long history and affirms that, for a pathway to lasting peace and justice to be developed, the root causes of the crisis need to be addressed; and

WHEREAS, between October 7, 2023 and February 15, 2024, Israeli forces have killed over 28,000 Palestinians, of whom over 12,300 were children, while 66,139 more have been wounded with more than 8,000 unaccounted for under the rubble^{[3] [4] [5]}, and 1,139 Israelis were killed by Hamas and Israeli “friendly fire” on October 7th^{[6] [7] [8]} ; and

WHEREAS, Gaza is in a dire humanitarian crisis that is getting worse with each passing day, with Israel displacing an estimated 1,900,000 people since October 7, 2023^[9], starving millions as reported by the U.N.'s World Food Programme^[10], and denying 95% of Gazans access to clean drinking water^[11], while also destroying over 50% of the buildings in Gaza, which includes 70% (or 439,000) of the homes^[12], and leaving the few hospitals they have yet to bomb on the brink of collapse^[13]; and

WHEREAS, the United States Government currently provides $3.8 billion annually in military funding to Israel, and is considering sending an additional $14.3 billion this year^[14]; and

WHEREAS, the residents in the state of North Carolina provide $91,775,098 annually to the Israeli military, with City of Durham residents providing $4,303,943 of that total amount^[15]; and

WHEREAS, city and state tax dollars are desperately needed for residents struggling to afford housing, healthcare and other basic needs; and

WHEREAS, there is worldwide support for an immediate ceasefire, and the U.S. stands alone as the only country in the UN to vote against the intergovernmental organization’s December 8th resolution for an urgent humanitarian ceasefire^[16]; and

WHEREAS, Raz Segal, an Israeli expert in modern genocide, called Israel’s assault on Gaza a textbook case of “intent to commit genocide” and its rationalization of its violence a “shameful use” of the lessons of the Holocaust.^[17];  and

WHEREAS, South Africa filed an application on December 29, 2023 formerly accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians and, on January 31, 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations’ top court, found it plausible that Israel’s acts could amount to genocide and issued six provisional measures, ordering Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent genocidal acts, including preventing and punishing incitement to genocide, ensuring aid and services reach Palestinians under siege in Gaza, and preserving evidence of crimes committed in Gaza^[18]; and

WHEREAS, the South African lawyers handling the Genocide case against Israel at the ICJ are also preparing a separate lawsuit against the United States and the United Kingdom for complicity in Zionist war crimes based on both governments’ enabling Israel to engage in international crimes against the Palestinian people^[19]; and

WHEREAS, international organizations like Amnesty International, the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the International Rescue Committee, and unions such as the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE), SEIU1199 (the largest healthcare union in the country), National Nurses United, and many others have made a call for a ceasefire in order to prevent the further loss of life of civilians and to be in line with international humanitarian law; and

WHEREAS, the UN deems the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory as unlawful under international law due to its permanence and the Israeli Government’s de-facto annexation policies^[20]; and

WHEREAS, 68% of American voters support a ceasefire and want to see the U.S. leverage its diplomatic relationships “to prevent further violence and civilian deaths" ^[21] [22]; and

WHEREAS, hundreds of thousands of Palestinian lives are at imminent risk of death if a lasting ceasefire is not achieved and humanitarian aid is not delivered without delay; and

WHEREAS, the Federal Government holds immense diplomatic and appropriations powers to save Palestinian and Israeli lives; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the City of Durham supports U.S. Congress Resolution H.R.786 and urges our Congressional delegation, both in the Senate and the House of Representatives, to join us in demanding the Biden Administration and Congress call for a permanent ceasefire in Historic Palestine (Gaza, West Bank and Israel); an end to U.S. aid and arms to Israel; lift the siege on Gaza, allowing immediate and sufficient life-saving humanitarian aid to enter; the release of ALL hostages held in Israel and Gaza; the protection of all innocent civilians; the restoration of food, water, electricity, and medical supplies to Gaza; an end to the Occupation of Palestine; the respect for international law; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Durham stands in clear support of the implementation of international law, without exception and particularly when taxpayer moneys are given, and thus demands that Congress and the Executive Branch hold Israel and themselves accountable to international law; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, the City of Durham urges the Biden administration to work for the release of ALL hostages held in Israel and Gaza, including the thousands of Palestinians detained by Israel; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, the City of Durham supports residents of all faiths and condemns Islamophobia and antisemitism; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Durham Council asks the Clerk to quickly send copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, Durham’s Congressional Delegation, State Representatives and Senators, as well as the Governor urging them to take immediate action by using their position and influence to help end Israel’s assault on Gaza, one of the worst assaults on any civilian population in our time and age.