TOLEDO, Ohio — Toledo City Council has called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.
The legislative body unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday "denouncing hate and discrimination in Toledo and calling for a peaceful resolution in Palestine and Israel."
The nearly full chambers erupted into applause immediately after the passage, following multiple meetings of impassioned anger when council repeatedly read a resolution that would call for a ceasefire but did not take action.
Sponsored by council president Carrie Hartman and members Adam Martinez, Theresa Gadus, Nick Komives and Cerssandra McPherson, the resolution enacts the following:
- "Council expresses its unwavering support and sympathy for all, Palestinian, Israeli, Muslim, Jewish, Christian and all other members of the Toledo community who have been impacted by the atrocities of this war."
- "Council calls for an immediate lasting negotiated bilateral ceasefire, release of all hostages, and unrestricted humanitarian aid at the levels recommended by the United Nations for Palestinian people."
- "Council condemns all forms of anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian racism, antisemitism, and Islamophobia; each of whom has a right to learn, work, worship, gather, advocate, mourn, and celebrate free from intimidation, harassment, doxing, and fear of violence."
The war in Gaza began more than five months ago when the militant group Hamas attacked southern Israel and killed more than 1,000 people.
According to recent tolls from Gaza's Health Ministry, the Associated Press reported that more than 28,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel responded to the Oct. 7 attack with a massive military offensive into Gaza. Palestinians also evacuated a major hospital in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis on Wednesday as the war continues to ravage Gaza's hospitals.
The United Muslims Association of Toledo released the following statement on the resolution:
"It is with extreme gratitude that United Muslims Assocation thanks Toledo City Council for it unanimous support of Ceasefire in Gaza. The Council has upheld and affirmed our position as a Compassionate Community. With this gesture they have offered consolation to the many bereaved families who have lost dozens of family members. We are cognizant of the tremendous pressure they endured to see this resolution to fruition. We join the City Council of Toledo in praying for peace for all humanity. We will work with the Mayor and Council in keeping Toledo a hate and discrimination -free community."
Martinez, who read the resolution at Tuesday's meeting, acknowledged that not everyone may be pleased with it, but said it is "an attempt to create a pathway and come together as a community to understand how complex geopolitics can be."
Walaa Kanan, a board member of the Toledo chapter of American Muslims for Palestine, said the resolution's passage is "a celebratory moment."
"Toledo City Council chose to stand on the right side of history," she said. "As a Palestinian and as a resident of Toledo, I am happy our city council chose to call for a ceasefire."
Kanan also said it is important for a local government to address an international issue that affects people in the city it governs.
"There's a wide variety of Palestinians who live here in Toledo," she said. "This is absolutely a local issue because it affects those of us who are here locally."
Komives, one of the resolution's sponsors, said hundreds of people attended council meetings and contacted council members to urge council to take action.
In agreement with Kanan, Komives said a global issue like the Israel-Hamas war affects people across the world.
"Undoubtedly, the war that's happening, the forced starvation of people, the forced migration of people, is visible to us in a way that we've never been able to experience in the past," he said. "I find it hard for us to try and deny the 3,000 voices that reached out to tell us to do something."
Komives also said that while Toledo has a large Arab population that was vocal in its support of a resolution, residents from all backgrounds were asking council for it.