Photo: Jared Brosnan/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Boston City Council voted to approve a resolution supporting a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages from Hamas.
The councilors gathered at Boston City Hall on Wednesday to vote on the measure, sponsored by Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson who represents District 7.
The resolution calls for an “immediate and permanent ceasefire in Israel and Palestine, an end to the bombing of Gaza, the freeing of all hostages from Hamas and the freeing of all administrative detainees held by Israel,” as well as lifting all barriers preventing humanitarian assistance from being provided.
“Our message is simple: all life is precious,” said Anderson. “And the time has come for us to stand up and call for an end to this senseless violence.”
The resolution also calls on the U.S. to resume funding UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
Councilor Ben Weber of Jamaica Plain shared that he has been hearing stories of despair from both Palestinian and Jewish constituents.
And Councilor Gabriela Coletta of East Boston said that she supports the resolution while also condemning antisemitic attacks.
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Of the 13 councilors, two voted against the resolution: Councilor At-Large Erin Murphy and Councilor Ed Flynn, who represents South Boston.
Murphy agreed that all life is precious, but added that “Passover just ended yesterday, and I’m hearing from many Jewish residents, friends, [and] family that they were offline, and this morning [they] are just hearing about this resolution coming forward.”
Flynn said, “I still believe that the City Council is not the right body to address this. We have critical issues facing the city."
The city councils in Somerville, Medford, and Cambridge have voted to support similar resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Nichole Davis (@NicholeDWBZ) reports.
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