A divided Santa Ana City Council has passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, making it the first city in Orange County to do so.
The resolution also calls for the release of Israeli hostages, and says the city recognizes a free Palestinian state and Israel’s right to exist.
For months, city officials around the region have been called on by community members to take stands in the conflict raging half way around the world, with simmering emotions often boiling over in council chambers as opponents in audiences clashed.
Stanton councilmembers recently publicly condemned violence, terrorism, hate and the loss of innocent lives in a resolution that fell short of calling for a ceasefire. After multiple meetings with a divided public looking for a council stand, Irvine leaders last week voted 3-2 against weighing in on the Israel-Hamas War, instead electing, they said, to focus on local matters that directly impact Irvine residents.
“This is about 30,000 dead, and the continued killing of people in Gaza and wanting that to end. It’s the stopping of killing and torture of people with no food,” said Councilmember Benjamin Vazquez, who introduced the resolution in Santa Ana Tuesday night for the second time. “For the city of Santa Ana to take it on, it is our duty to speak up in the times of injustice. When injustice comes, it has to take courage to speak up.”
Councilmembers Jessie Lopez, Johnathan Hernandez and Thai Viet Phan threw their support behind the resolution, but Mayor Valerie Amezcua was opposed. Councilmembers Phil Bacerra and David Penaloza stepped out of the meeting before the discussion got started.
Should local government weigh in on the Israel-Hamas war? OC officials grapple with what to do
Phan pushed previously for leaving out the call for a ceasefire and this time got language added to the resolution calling for peace for all people.
“I had brought a resolution that was about peace, that was about…
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