Oakland City Council demands ceasefire in Gaza but rejects opportunity to condemn Hamas: 'An embarrassing message'

The Oakland City Council approved a resolution on Monday demanding a ceasefire in Gaza but rejected amendments condemning Hamas for its barbaric attack on Israel.

By unanimous vote, the eight city councilmembers — all of them Democrats — approved a resolution supporting U.S. House Resolution 786, which demands "an immediate deescalation and cease-fire in Israel and occupied Palestine." Far-left members of Congress, including the Squad, are responsible for that resolution.

The Oakland City Council resolution says:

RESOLVED that the City of Oakland supports U.S. Congress Resolution H.R.786 and joins other cities in calling on our Congress Members to demand: an immediate ceasefire; release of all hostages, the unrestricted entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza; the restoration of food, water, electricity, and medical supplies to Gaza; and the respect for international law; and calls for a resolution that protects the security of all innocent civilians...

City councilmembers thought they were sending a message of moral clarity with their resolution.

But according to KQED, the council rejected any amendments to the resolution. One of those amendments, offered by councilman Dan Kalb, sought to include language condemning Hamas for its attack on Israel.

"Not even clearly mentioning the Hamas mass murder on Oct. 7 is sending the wrong message and an embarrassing message," he told his fellow councilmembers.

Even though his amendments were not adopted, Kalb voted for the resolution anyway.

During the public comment period held before the vote, Tye Gregory, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council Bay Area, explained why any resolution demanding Israel stop defending itself without addressing the problem of Hamas is shortsighted.

"There will be no Palestinian-Israeli peace with [Hamas] in power, and that’s why this resolution must be amended to acknowledge the atrocities of Hamas and include its removal from power," Gregory said, KQED reported, referring to Hamas' desire to exterminate Israel.

According to KTVU-TV, the vast majority of public comments — more than 80% — supported the resolution.

Oakland City Council unanimously passes resolution demanding ceasefire in Gazawww.youtube.com

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