The Minneapolis City Council voted on Thursday to pass a resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza and an end to U.S. military funding to Israel, despite the mayor’s veto. The mayor, Jacob Frey, who is Jewish, expressed concerns about the resolution’s language being one-sided and rising antisemitism in Minneapolis and beyond, leading to his veto last week. However, the council overrode the veto with a majority vote.
The resolution urges state and federal authorities to work towards an immediate and permanent cease-fire, provide urgent humanitarian aid, halt U.S. military funding to Israel, release Israeli hostages taken by Hamas, and release Palestinians held in Israeli military prisons without cause or trial.
Council President Elliott Payne and Vice President Aisha Chughtai praised the council members who voted to override the mayor’s veto. The resolution has garnered support from organizations such as American Muslims for Palestine’s Minnesota chapter and Jewish Voice for Peace’s Twin Cities chapter.
Minneapolis joins a growing list of U.S. cities, including Chicago, Atlanta, Detroit, and San Francisco, that have approved similar non-binding resolutions.
The Palestinian death toll in the ongoing conflict has now surpassed 27,000 people, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza. Additionally, a quarter of Gaza’s residents are reportedly facing starvation.
As the conflict continues, it remains to be seen how this resolution will impact the situation in Gaza and the broader U.S.-Israel relationship.
© 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.
