Waving signs that read, “Stop the Killings” and displaying photos of the dead in Gaza, dozens of community members on Wednesday evening urged the Morgan Hill City Council to draft a ceasefire resolution, becoming the latest city across the Bay Area to debate the Israel-Hamas war.
As a result, the council agreed to discuss a possible ceasefire resolution at the next meeting on March 6.
“I want you to feel the passion, the emotion that people feel here. We are hurting. It’s heartbreaking to see what they are going through,” Rishara Kakunda told the City Council in a voice filled with emotion. “The least we can do is say ‘stop.’ You can’t make peace with war.”
Many comments focused on the death toll, arguing that tax dollars had supported the war through US aid to Israel. “The question is very simple to this council: how many people have to die before someone can act? There’s 30,000 people dead in the last four months,” said Morgan Hill resident Bassam Khoury. “It’s time for Morgan Hill to join other cities and put this item on the agenda and vote to have a ceasefire, to have peace in that region.”
Others spoke about food scarcity in Gaza and the lack of humanitarian aid allowed into the territory. “I have lived in Morgan Hill for almost half a century, and I’ve experienced nothing but kindness and friendship. I cannot believe that this community can stay silent to watch almost two million people die of hunger, for that reason we need to have a ceasefire,” said resident Nuzi Alavi.
After the comments, Mayor Mark Turner addressed the crowd directly, “We hear you, and this is a very difficult situation, not only for you but for the councilmembers to have to consider and weigh the thoughts and concerns of all of our community members,” he said. “Thank you all for being here and voicing your concerns.”
Towards the end of the meeting, councilmember Yvonne Martinez-Beltran proposed a motion to discuss a ceasefire resolution at an upcoming city council meeting. Separately, Councilmember Gino Borgioli proposed considering a policy that would bar the city council from taking any action on foreign affairs.