Emotions were high at Monday night’s City Council meeting as more than a dozen residents spoke out publicly to ask council members to pass a resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza.
Before the public comment portion during the Monday, Dec. 18 City Council meeting, Redwood City Mayor Jeff Gee said the city had also received more than 400 emails asking for the council to pass the resolution calling for a cease-fire. However, during the time of publishing, only four of those emails were on the city’s website.
One resident, Siddharth Patel, noted that other cities in the state, such as Oakland, Richmond and Davis, have called for a cease-fire.
“I would be so proud to have Redwood City added to that list of cities, please use your voices to call for a cease-fire, call for the entry of aid into Gaza, call for the respect of international law and the protection of innocent civilians,” Patel said.
Resident Bridget West emailed the council stating the issues in Palestine are humanitarian and have no political boundaries.
“Too many innocent lives are being lost – on both sides. An immediate cease-fire is the only option,” West said in the email.
Redwood City business owner Ali Ahmad spoke passionately, stating that he has cried over the children’s deaths in Palestine.
“We are asking for a cease-fire to Palestine because our kids are dying, enough is enough, we have too many kids dying,” Ahmad said.
The residents' plea for help came the night before Israeli troops launched strikes in Gaza, raiding two of the last working hospitals in Gaza and a strike on a home in Rafah, killing around 30 people, the Associated Press reported.
It’s estimated around 20,000 Palestinians, both civilians and military members, have been killed since Oct. 7 Hamas killed around 1,200 people and captured 240 hostages, most of whom were civilians, according to the Associated Press.
Resident Mohammad Ali said that would be equal to a quarter of Redwood City’s population dying in the past two months. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city’s population was estimated at 81,000 people in 2021.
Council member Chris Sturken said that while the council cannot respond to public comments made that are not on the agenda, adding the resolution for a cease-fire on the agenda in the future could make an impact.
“It could send a message to congressional representatives who have the authority to do something,” Sturken said. “What I heard last night was heartbreaking, and it was telling because it let the council know that there are Palestinians in the community who are nurses, business owners and students and they are part of the community and deserve to be represented by the council.”
In an email, Deputy City Manager Jennifer Yamaguma made a statement on behalf of Gee that they heard from “many voices with different points of views” on Monday.
Gee extended his hopes and wishes for peace in the community, the country, and the world, Yamaguma said.
Ali said he was dismayed that the city has yet to take a stance on the issue.
“A city like mine, that prides itself on peace, equity and inclusion, such noble humanitarian pursuits, has failed to pass a cease-fire resolution for Palestine, let alone speak against the indiscriminate killings of civilians where many of your residents have family, and familial and friendship connections,” Ali said.
