Chicago seeks ceasefire in Israel's conflict with Gaza.

As Israel’s conflict with Gaza approaches its four-month mark, Chicago has joined the growing list of U.S. cities urging for a permanent ceasefire, adding pressure on President Joe Biden ahead of the upcoming November election to intervene and stop the violence. Following contentious public discussions, the city’s council narrowly passed a nonbinding resolution with a 24-23 vote on Wednesday. Mayor Brandon Johnson cast the tie-breaking vote and temporarily cleared the council chambers during the heated session.

The symbolic declaration entails a plea for humanitarian assistance to reach the Gaza Strip and the liberation of all individuals detained within the enclave.

“I don’t harbor the belief that the words we utter and the votes we cast today directly shape international policy. I don’t entertain such illusions,” remarked Alderman Daniel La Spata, one of the resolution’s backers. “However, we cast our votes with hope, solidarity, and the intention to make people feel acknowledged in a world that often remains silent.”

The ordinance has remained mostly unchanged in recent months despite Alderwoman Debra Silverstein, the council’s only Jewish member, advocating for increased support for Israel and criticism of Hamas.

“During the meeting, she emphasized the importance of ending the bloodshed and the war. It’s crucial to understand the root causes of the conflict before passing any resolution. Any resolution must unequivocally address the issue of Hamas’s responsibility for initiating attacks and prevent future aggression.”

The Gaza Strip has been heavily impacted by Israeli attacks following surprise assaults by Hamas fighters inside Israel on October 7, resulting in approximately 1,140 casualties, primarily civilians, as per Israeli officials. In response, Israel initiated an extensive air and ground offensive, leading to the deaths of nearly 27,000 individuals, with around 70 percent identified as children, women, and the elderly, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza.

Both Democratic and Republican administrations in the US have consistently provided Israel with $3.8 billion in annual military aid, encompassing items such as fighter jets and potent munitions. However, Israel’s persistent military actions in Gaza have revealed significant fractures within the US, highlighting mounting dissatisfaction with the Biden administration’s approach to foreign policy.

The adoption of the resolution signifies that Chicago has joined cities like Atlanta, Detroit, and San Francisco in urging for a ceasefire.

According to a recent analysis by Reuters news agency, approximately 48 US cities have adopted symbolic resolutions calling for a halt to Israel’s Gaza bombardment. Additionally, six other cities have passed resolutions advocating more broadly for peace. Furthermore, at least 20 cities have passed resolutions condemning Hamas’s attacks on October 7th.

The majority of ceasefire resolutions have been approved in Democratic states such as California. However, at least 14 resolutions have been passed in swing states like Michigan, which could be crucial in determining Biden’s re-election chances, most likely against Republican former President Donald Trump.

A significant number of ceasefire appeals mirror the format of Missouri Congresswoman Cori Bush’s “Ceasefire Now” resolution. Additionally, her resolution advocates for the liberation of captives and a boost in aid directed towards Gaza.

Nine of the ceasefire appeals occurred in Michigan, a state where Arab Americans constitute 5 percent of the electorate. Biden’s winning margin over Trump in 2020 was under 3 percent. A poll conducted in October indicated that Biden’s backing among Arab Americans had dropped to 17 percent from 59 percent in 2020.

“According to Sam Baydoun, a Wayne County commissioner, Arab Americans have made up their minds not to support Joe Biden in the upcoming election, regardless of any circumstances.”

“He expressed the sentiment shared by numerous members of the Arab-American community regarding Joe Biden’s steadfast backing of Israel: Biden will struggle to rebuild trust within the Arab-American community.”

The conflict is expected to weigh heavily on the minds of voters in the forthcoming election, according to Douglas Wilson, a Democratic strategist based in the swing state of North Carolina.

“It will pose a challenge both here and in all swing states due to the presence of Muslim, Jewish, Black, and brown communities in these regions,” Wilson explained to Reuters.