San Francisco Board of Supervisors passes resolution calling for Gaza cease-fire
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Tuesday passed a resolution calling for a sustained cease-fire in Gaza after a heated period of public comment.
The resolution passed as amended with an 8-3 vote. In addition to calling for a cease-fire, the resolution also condemns anti-Semitic, anti-Palestinian, and Islamophobic rhetoric and attacks, as well as calls for humanitarian aid in the region and the release of hostages.
The amendment introduced by Board of Supervisor President Aaron Peskin calls for the Biden Administration to do the same. It further condemns Hamas's attack on Oct. 7 and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's response which has killed thousands.
Supervisors Catherine Stefani, Matt Dorsey and Rafael Mandelman were the only no votes.
It was introduced by Supervisor Dean Preston and Hillary Ronen -- who are both Jewish -- on Dec. 5. Residents in support of the resolution packed City Hall, while those who did not held a vigil outside for hostages who were still being held by Hamas.
Lara Kiswany, the Executive Director of Arab Resource and Organizing Center, celebrated the passage of the resolution as a personal triumph as she held her 9-month-old baby, Salma.
"We are grateful to all the supervisors who have championed this issue, taking it as a critical matter and listening to their constituents facing hate violence," said Kiswany outside of City Hall. "Thousands of the community have been touched by this issue. I, myself, have lost family members in Gaza. There's not one Palestinian person anywhere that hasn't been touched by the loss of loved ones in Gaza."
However, not everyone agreed with the resolution.
"I was once an Assembly member and I never aligned myself with people that were the angriest and the ones that have called for violence," Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League Marc Levine. "That was repellent for me and I think that's what our communities are looking for...as for our elected leaders to have a moral clarity, to condemn this violence and disassociate themselves from it."
"To see this city at the forefront for Palestinian lives and dignity, against war, against hatred of all kinds, I think passing this resolution would fit that history of San Francisco and the Bay Area really well," added Wassim Hage of the Arab Resource and Organizing Center.
Yet, while the decision holds symbolic significance, it doesn't directly influence international policies. Some leaders argue that these local resolutions might not be the best way to unite the community.
Levine emphasized the need for leaders to calm things and bring the temperature down, keeping their focus on local solutions.
"Why are people speaking up about international conflicts, about the only Jewish country defending its own residents?" asked Levine.
Kiswany acknowledged that while the resolution lacks legal authority to influence international affairs, its adoption resonates as a civic expression of support for peace efforts.
"This resolution signals to all that our elected officials see us, they hear us, they want to protect us...that they're supporting a ceasefire," she said. "It's personal to all of us. It should be personal to anybody who cares about the future of this world and humanity."
Tyler Gregory, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Bay Area, released the following statement after the San Francisco Board of Supervisors' vote for a ceasefire resolution.
"JCRC Bay Area is appreciative of the members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors who listened to the Jewish community and worked to develop a modified resolution that reflects our deep anguish following the heinous October 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas. President Peskin's revised resolution that was ultimately adopted included the denunciation of Hamas and the need to remove this terrorist organization from power. We also appreciate that inflammatory condemnations of Israel were removed from the original resolution introduced by Supervisor Dean Preston.
"We also commend Supervisors Mandelman, Stefani, and Dorsey, who voted 'no' on this resolution, recognizing these municipal votes have no foreign policy impact.
"However, these changes do not take away from the pain this process has spawned for the Jewish community and others who have been traumatized by the Israel-Hamas War. Both yesterday and today in City Hall, some made vitriolic statements calling for the violent destruction of Israel and denied the atrocities of Hamas, including mass sexual violence.
"We hope other major cities will learn the painful lessons our city has endured — this division is unnecessary and avoidable."
Preston's office issued a statement regarding the JCRC's claim that the original resolution had "inflammatory condemnations of Israel."
"My resolution and the amendments I offered are public record, did not contain any of the language JCRC is claiming is in there, and I would request that JCRC stop blatantly lying about me and my legislation. Regardless, I'm glad this crucial legislation passed today," Preston said.
The original resolution can be read here.
Jose Fabian contributed to this story.
