I have been a resident of Oakland for over 24 years and urge the City Council to vote NO on the resolution. This resolution fails to condemn Hamas and the atrocities it committed on October 7th. Furthermore, Hamas has explicitly stated that they seek to repeat the attacks made on innocent civilians over and over again. As President Biden, Secretary of State Blinken and Congress have all made clear: There can be no lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians if Hamas remains in power. As stated in their charter and shown by their October 7 attack – the deadliest on global Jews since the Holocaust – Hamas has no interest in coexistence.

While I do not believe the city of Oakland should be weighing in on this issue at all given all of the problems we face locally (i.e. homelessness, significant crime issues, and much more), if the City Council truly wishes to "love life", they MUST acknowledge that Jewish and other lives are threatened if Hamas remains in power. An immediate ceasefire, would fail to remove Hamas and cause significantly more bloodshed in the for both Jews and the residents of Gaza in the future. This is simply unacceptable.

Please vote NO on the resolution

I am a healthcare worker in Oakland. I oppose killing innocent civilians. What Israel is doing meets the definition of genocide, and should stop. It’s as simple as that and hard to understand why a council member would oppose this resolution, except out of fear for retaliation when they seek reelection or a higher office. You were elected to vote for what is right and just, even when under pressure. Vote your conscience. The many people in the East Bay and the nation who support the right of Palestinians to live freely will have your back.

There are so many people who are unaware of the true and real history in the Middle East, but they are calling Israel and apartheid state. Jews decolonizes the region and are indigenous people to this land. Their safety is under a great threat, and terrorist organizations from neighbors do want to commit genocide against Israel. Hamas leadership did say that October 7th was a first attempt to kill all Israeli, and they will do it again, again and again. Moreover, Hamas stated they waned to kill every single Jew on the planet. Why are you, City Councils, are not asking for a resolution to return innocent hostages? Do you know that once they are back and Hamas surrenders, Israel will cease fire? You are actually helping poor Palestinian citizens to continue to live in misery instead of helping them to get rid of their terrorist government. Let Israel secure their safety as well as the bright and prosperous future for their Palestinian neighbors! With the current Hamas government, asking to cease fire, you, the Oakland City Counsils, are committing a crime against Israeli and Palestinians. Furthermore, locally, with this resolution, you are dividing people instead of uniting. Free the world from Hamas and its likes!!!! Let’s create a safe environment for a dialogue between Palestinians and Jews and offer peace at least in our country at this time. By the way, it is a cease fire now, and Israel follows the decision to a “t”

Dear Oakland City Council Members,

My name is Seema Badar and I am an East Bay resident. I fully support the ceasefire resolution as is. We need an immediate and permanent ceasefire to prevent anymore Palestinian civilians from being murdered. Over 12,000 Palestinians civilians and over 6000 children have died. This is unacceptable. Hospitals, schools, humanitarian aid agencies, borders, and safe routes have all been bombed. This is unacceptable and these are international war crimes. Please support the resolution as is and call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and humanitarian aid to Gaza so we can prevent more loss of life.

Let us live in love, let us BE in love, let us relate to one another in love, let us be in relationship with the world in love. The slaughter of 14,000 human beings is the unbearable consequence of fear. I demand that you, council members, do the WORK of moving through your fear into love.

On the evening of October 8th, the night after the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust, my (district 3) Oakland Jewish community held an event for us to be with each other and support each other, even while several people were still trying to contact their family in Israel. There was one person who attended that event to show us support from the Oakland community, to remind us that we ARE part of the community here. That person was not a city council member, but a former member, Loren Taylor.

In the seven weeks since that day, as antisemitism has surged globally and locally, the City of Oakland has left us alone, rather than take local action to combat anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim hate. Trying to influence foreign policy instead of strengthening community here in Oakland is inappropriate. The Oakland city council will not solve a decades-long Middle East, but there is plenty of work to be done locally if they so choose.

If you've ever wondered how people could watch the Holocaust happen, I am letting you know that what you are doing now is what you would have done then. Would you have stood up against anti semitism, or stood with the Nazis w/ the excuse that they're fighting for freedom? It's the same thing, except now we're in 2023 instead of 1938. Hating Jews is a tale as old as time, and I urge Oakland not to support it.

Many Israeli families live & work in Oakland. We acknowledge & mourn the loss of Palestinian lives, however have yet to see Pro-Palestine rallies mourn Jews who have been killed & are being held captive. When these resolutions are passed, they are ONLY dividing the community further. We are already scared to wear our Star of David necklaces in public. Why?

If Oakland wants to stand against hate, I am urging you not to pass a resolution that is one-sided. This resolution is not inclusive & not for peace. While others will disguise the resolution as solidarity with Palestine, the timing in which they bring it to you is pretty obviously anti Israel, wouldn't you agree? And while some may say that Israel deserved it for their "occupation", I personally DON'T think there is anything freedom-fighting about raping women, beheading children, & kidnapping innocent civilians who lived/worked close to the Gaza border. I also do not celebrate the murder of any innocent life, whether they are Palestinian or Jewish.

Please do the right thing and do not pass a one-sided resolution.

My name is Michael Trujillo, and I vote in Oakland City Council District 1. I strongly support calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and thank CM Fife for her leadership on this important issue. Please pass the Oakland Love's Life Ceasefire Resolution as it is drafted.

First of all, I am not opposed to a ceasefire in general, but the one that is proposed is very one-sided.
Some of the things in the item I oppose:
1."the City of Oakland recognizes that the current crisis 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;"
The City of Oakland, without stating that the root cause is the existence of a terror organization, Hamas, who are declaring again and again that they will repeat the atrocities they have committed on Oct. 7th on Israeli land that is not under any dispute as per U.N resolution 181 - is ignoring the reality and is effectively stating that "all lives matter" in the face of Jewish claims that they fear for their lives and are being targeted.
2."WHEREAS, over one thousand people in Israel and more than eleven thousand Palestinians in Gaza have been killed in a matter of weeks, of whom over five thousand are children"
By not differentiating combatants (who, unfortunately, are sometimes also children indoctrinated by Hamas), The City of Oakland presents a false narrative as if all Palestinian casualties are innocent civilians. Moreover, not stating that Hamas is intentionally targeting civilians is also a horrible "omission".
3.Calling for a ceasefire but not including the demand that Hamas is permanently disarmed is only asking for Oct. 7th events to repeat themselves in a later date as determined by Hamas leaders.

Free Palestine!!

Dear Council, my name is Jessica Sarber and I am a resident of Oakland, as well as my family has been in Oakland for four generations. I am here asking you to oppose the resolution or amend the proposed resolution to condemn Hamas and condemn terrorism. As President Biden, Secretary of State Blinken and Congress have all made clear: There can be no lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians if Hamas remains in power. As stated in their charter and shown by their October 7 attack, Hamas has no interest in coexistence. For these reasons, I hope you support a real peace for both Israelis and for Palestinians by opposing this resolution or amending the resolution. Thank you for your time.

Fix OAKLAND, not the Middle East! Oakland city council has no business meddling in foreign affairs when Oaklanders can’t even a police dispatcher when we call 9-1-1 (we are put on hold for 40+ minutes)! Don’t be pressured by the loud, violent, voices in support of this ridiculous “resolution” (particularly when there already IS an Israel/Gaza cease fire right now). These are the same citizens who do NOT abide by the law, stormed the Oakland federal building and waste tax dollars and policing resources on virtue signaling. The opposing side may not be as loud, but we don’t believe in civility (not violence) to get our message across! Fix OAKLAND, not the Middle East!

I am an Oakland resident and my kids go to OUSD schools. I am also an Arab Jew in favor of a ceasefire and an end to the genocidal attacks on Gaza. As an Arab Jew I come from a lineage of displaced people and have found a haven in Oakland. I have found community here with other Arabs, Jewish and otherwise, who stand in solidarity with Palestine, who stand for peace and justice. Here, we somewhat are able to reconstitute a piece of the life that our ancestors had, where we live together in respect and harmony, where we celebrate our shared culture. It is very precious and unique, and I ask that you acknowledge us. In this moment the Arab community is shattered. Some of our Palestinian brothers and sisters have lost dozens of family members in just 50 days. This violence does not resolve anything and you know as well as we do that it is a blood-shedding, land grabbing expedition. It will only create more hatred, resentment and fear. I ask that you protect your Arab constituents who are facing incredible levels of hatred at the moment while also mourning our kin. I ask that you acknowledge your Jewish constituents who recognize that this does not do anything for our safety. I ask that you oppose the genocidal violence done to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. As a members of a US governing body you have a responsibility. This is the time to decide if you are complicit with genocide or not. Ceasefire now.

Oakland Dist. 6 resident and Dist. 4 business owner of Jewish descent. Strongly support this resolution. Shout out to Rep. Fife for sponsoring. I urge my Rep. Jenkins to support. Don't succumb to the pressure of the JCRC. Those groups don't speak for anti-Zionist Jews and the broader Jewish community that supports global solidarity with Palestinian people, and opposes the settlements, US aid to Israeli military, and the barbaric control of Palestinian life by Israel. -Jason Wallach

A ceasefire measure only giving attention to Palestinian cause unfortunately perpetuates antisemitism these days. Condemn Hamas for the terrorist Attack which murdered over 1,000 Israeli Civilians on October 7th. My kids are afraid because of rising Antisemitism. Take that sentiment in for a second. You are contributing to the rise in antisemitism. Jews are feeling afraid, sad, angry, and isolated. Including our children. Stop telling us how we feel and what is/isn't antisemitic. We know what antisemitism is because WE feel and experience it. Jews around the Bay Area and around the world, descendants of Holocaust survivors, are subject to hijacking of Holocaust terms "genocide" "Nazi". You may not be purposefully meaning to perpetuate antisemitism by passing this, but unfortunately you are. AntiZionism is AntiSemitism. (Stop telling Jewish people "it's not antisemitic to be antizionist" ). Again, if you aren't Jewish, don't tell us how we feel. Stop hijacking our narrative. We deserve the right to have a country and defend ourselves. For this resolution, I recommend representing multiple sides. Condemn Hamas for the terrorist attack against Israel, demand they release all the hostages kidnapped on October 7th.

My name is Amanda Chang and I live in District 1 in Oakland. I am calling upon the City of Oakland to pass a resolution condemning ongoing genocide in Palestine. Our state-elected representatives have not taken bold enough action to denounce the genocide of over 10,000 people in this month alone. Therefore, it is up to you, as our local officials to stand on the right side of history with this resolution. This pause is not enough and it is absolutely shameful that it coincided with a huge commercial holiday in the United States. We will not turn our attention away and we refuse to participate in capitalistic nonsense until a ceasefire is called for. As our tax dollars have been used and are currently being used to fund this genocide, we cannot be part of that silence. We must act TODAY and align with the hundreds of thousands of people living on occupied Turtle Island to end the genocide and support a liberated Palestine. Do not make any amendments and stand strong in your principles. As an engaged Oakland resident, I will support the brave councilmembers who stand with Palestine. Ceasefire NOW!

From D1, I support this resolution to call for a ceasefire and put a stop to the ethnic cleansing & genocide currently happening in Gaza at the hands of Israel.
There have been repeated attempts across media today to justify this genocide, dehumanize the Palestinian population. Months and years from now, thousands will wonder what our country; state; and city of Oakland did in this moment. Please support this resolution and represent your constituents

Opposed. Why is City of Oakland passing judgement on a Democratic sovereign country’s fight against a murderous terrorist organization that has vowed for its destruction??
Did Oakland also ask for a ceasefire when the west was fighting ISIS in Mosul? Or Nazi Germany?
As Hillary Clinton said, there was a cease-fire on Oct. 6 that Hamas broke by their barbaric assault on peaceful civilians and their kidnapping of children, murdering entire families, their beheading, raping, their terrible inhumane savagery.
War is terrible, and nobody in Israel wants it. Hamas has clearly stated that they intend to commit these atrocities over and over again. No life desiring country can live with that threat.
The only possible reason for the hypocritical, double standard calls for ceasefire is the notion that the Jewish state has no right to exist and defend itself.

Hamas has released the mothers and children it abducted only because it's under intense military pressure.

It could get a real and lasting cease-fire for the people of Gaza - and probably safe passage out of the territory for many of its members - in exchange for releasing all the hostages, surrendering its arms and renouncing its rule in favor of some other Arab power.

That Hamas has done none of these things isn't shocking: It's a terrorist death cult.
What's shocking is that people in the Cease-Fire Now crowd don't appear to have much interest in making any demands of Hamas equivalent to those they make of Israel.

I am from District 6 and I support this resolution for Oakland to join the call for a ceasefire in Gaza. This is a moment for Oakland to support the many Palestinians civilians still alive. Too much innocent blood has been shed and entire bloodlines lost. This resolution is a first-step in supporting the aid needed for civilians and the rebuilding of community through re-establishing of basic needs like water and electricity. Stop the genocide and let Gaza live. As a resident of the flats of East Oakland for most of my life, I say firmly that where you live and how you look should not determine the violence you endure.

I’m a resident of District 2 and I support the immediate ceasefire and return of land to Palestinians. The ongoing genocide since 1948 & rise in hate crimes against Arabs, Muslims & Palestinians is completely unacceptable. Supporting this resolution is to support humanity. The same mistakes were made with Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam; don’t make the same mistakes again. Speak out now before you regret not doing it. This is not a religious “war” - this is outright genocide supported by white supremacy in a malicious land grab for more than 75 years. Stand on the right side of history. Free Palestine.