Some 70 U.S. cities have passed resolutions on the Israel-Gaza war, most calling for a ceasefire, a Reuters analysis of municipal data shows, putting increased pressure on President Joe Biden ahead of the general election in November to help end the fighting.
At least 47 cities passed symbolic resolutions calling for an end to Israeli bombing of Gaza, while six other cities passed resolutions advocating more broadly for peace. At least 20 countries have adopted resolutions condemning the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, which sparked the current bloodshed.
Most of the ceasefire resolutions were passed in Democratic states like California, but at least 14 were passed in swing states like Michigan, which could be decisive in President Biden’s re-election bid against former Republican President Donald Trump.
Mr. Biden’s administration has rejected calls for a ceasefire, supported by a majority of Americans, arguing that an Israeli halt would embolden Hamas. Critics of municipal resolutions say they have no tangible effect on national policy and distract from domestic issues.
Gabriela Santiago-Romero, a Detroit City Council member who voted in November to pass a ceasefire resolution in Michigan’s largest city, said it reflected frustration, particularly from young leaders and people of color, towards Mr. Biden and other leaders of the national Democratic Party.
“We want leaders who are willing to listen to us,” Ms. Santiago-Romero said.
Democrats should “listen to young people, invest in diversity, invest in people who share values and who really listen to their voters,” she added.
Asked for comment, the White House, which said it was pressuring Israel to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza, referred to previous statements that a ceasefire would only benefit Hamas.
Reuters compiled data from 70 cities that have passed resolutions or proclamations between Israel and Gaza since Oct. 7, when Hamas militants killed some 1,200 people in Israel and took 253 hostages, according to Israeli counts. They range from big cities like San Francisco to small towns like Carrboro, North Carolina, and Mr. Biden’s hometown of Wilmington, Delaware.
Many calls for a ceasefire are inspired by Missouri Congresswoman Cori Bush’s “Ceasefire Now” resolution, which also calls for the release of hostages and increased aid to Gaza, where health officials say Israeli bombing has killed more than 26,600 Palestinians.
At least nine of the ceasefire calls came in Michigan, where Arab Americans make up 5% of the vote and Mr. Biden’s margin of victory over Mr. Trump in 2020 was less than 3%. An October poll showed that support for Mr. Biden among Arab Americans had fallen to 17%, from 59% in 2020.
“This [war] This is something that voters are going to be concerned about,” said Douglas Wilson, a Democratic strategist in the swing state of North Carolina.
“This is going to be a problem here and in all the swing states because of the Muslim populations in these states, the Jewish populations in these states and the black and brown population in these states,” Mr. Wilson said.
“Take a stand”
Hamas said on January 30 that it had received and was studying a new proposal for a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza, presented by mediators after negotiations with Israel, in what appears to be the initiative of the most serious peace in months.
U.S. support for Israel throughout the war has deeply divided Americans, sparking protests in American cities in support of Israel and Gaza. However, a Reuters poll last year found bipartisan support for a ceasefire.
Some critics of calls for a ceasefire in the city say they are premature, citing the brutality of Hamas attacks.
“We cannot have a ceasefire [with] a terrorist organization that is committed to doing it again,” said Tyler Gregory, head of the San Francisco Jewish Community Relations Council, who condemned the calls as one-sided.
“[These] The resolutions not only fan the flames of hatred, but they create greater tensions,” Mr. Gregory said, noting an increase in anti-Semitic incidents in the United States since October 7.
At least some city officials have said calls for a ceasefire have support from Jewish voters.
Hillary Ronen, supervisor of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, said hundreds of Jewish and Muslim residents urged her to vote in favor of a resolution passed in the city, one of the most important in the have approved.
“For people like me, Jews with family members in Israel, it is extremely important for us to take a stand against this war,” Ms. Ronen said.
Mohammed Khader, a black Palestinian-American and policy manager for the American Campaign for Palestinian Human Rights, said advocates “hope that those with local, state or federal voting power will recognize their Palestinian voters.”
Analysts have warned that while much could change before the November 5 election, local frustration with Mr. Biden could hurt him in the election by suppressing turnout.
Nadia Brown, a professor of government at Georgetown University, said many Democratic activists “don’t view voting or taking action on the national level as a way to get what they like.”
Ms Brown added: “And if they don’t see it now, will they see it in November? I do not think so.”
This story was reported by Reuters.