TOLEDO, Ohio — Packed Toledo City Council chambers erupted into chants of "shame on you" and heated accusations immediately after the meeting ended Tuesday and the legislative body had not taken formal action to declare support for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.
Rows of seats in the council chambers are typically filled with no more than 30 people for most meetings. But at Tuesday's meeting, about 100 people filled the chambers in One Government Center and council member Nick Komives read a speech in support of a ceasefire in the war in Gaza, which began Oct. 7, 2023, when the militant group Hamas attacked southern Israel and killed more than 1,000 people.
According to the Associated Press, recent death tolls from Gaza's Ministry of Health pin more than 26,700 deaths on Israel's offensive that has been ongoing since October.
Komives' speech noted a ceasefire's potential to save countless lives. The resolution also calls for the release of all people are being held hostage in Gaza. Authorities believe Hamas still is holding more than 100 hostages in Gaza.
Komives did not immediately respond to an after-hours request for comment on Tuesday.
Komives also noted that he has received more calls regarding the war in Gaza than any other subject during his six years serving on council.
Acknowledging an argument that it is not Toledo City Council's job to weigh in on an international conflict such as the war in Gaza, Komives said "no one batted an eye" when council declared support for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia's ongoing military offensive and that declaring support for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas "is the least council can do."
The crowded chambers all rose in applause for Komives' speech, but no formal action from council was taken.
Similar to a meeting on Jan. 17, when council tabled without discussion a resolution sponsored by Komives declaring support for a ceasefire, the crowded audience angrily called the council members "cowards" and accused them of not caring about civilians killed in the war.
The resolution from Jan. 17 is as follows:
"A Resolution asserting Toledo City Council's expressed sympathy for the innocent civilians victimized by the war in Israel and Palestine; condemning violence of any kind; affirming Toledo's status as a Certified Welcoming Community for those of the Jewish, Islamic, and all other religions; encouraging residents to offer support and sincere condolences to members of the Jewish and Palestinian communities of Toledo and all over the world."
A resolution from council supporting a ceasefire would have no significant impact on the war, just formally declare the legislative body's stance on the conflict.
The crowd also mentioned previous events at council meetings in January regarding the Israel-Hamas war that caused heated arguments.
