The New Orleans Ceasefire Resolution Committee has voiced strong opposition to a recent “Statement of Peace“ signed and distributed by the New Orleans City Council concerning the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Israel. The Committee claims that this statement was issued without consulting groups advocating for a ceasefire resolution, undermining their efforts to bring this issue to the council’s agenda. The coalition, which has been tirelessly advocating for a ceasefire resolution, asserts that the council’s statement is insidious in its language and dismisses the voices and concerns of Palestinian residents. Despite private meetings between council members and Palestinian constituents to discuss a ceasefire resolution, the Committee alleges that local Zionist institutions were involved in drafting the statement, demonstrating a significant disregard for Palestinian voices in the community. The Committee criticizes the statement for failing to acknowledge the fundamental purpose of a local ceasefire resolution: to pressure the White House, the US Senate, and Congress to reconsider their support of Israel’s actions. They argue that the US government has the power to end the violence and has been complicit in the continued suffering in Gaza by providing military aid and shielding Israel from accountability.
Furthermore, the coalition decries the portrayal of pro-Palestine activists as violent and undemocratic, noting that the only violence since October 2023 has come from law enforcement agencies against peaceful protesters. The Committee condemns the city council’s refusal to denounce these actions. In contrast to the council’s statement, which supports the US government’s efforts, the coalition’s proposed resolution aims to amplify the voices of those most affected by the conflict and call for specific actions to address their concerns. The Committee highlights that 172 cities across the country have already issued ceasefire resolutions urging the US government to implement a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, including ending military aid to Israel. The exclusion of Palestinian and Muslim voices from a statement that purports to advocate for peace in Gaza, the Committee argues, is not merely an oversight but a critical failure that undermines the document’s credibility and purpose. This approach risks further alienating the communities it claims to support and protect. The city council’s “Statement of Peace” full text is available for review here.
