I am grateful for my follow Easthamptonites who have worked so hard with our City Council on a cease-fire resolution. It is an incredibly diverse, knowledgeable, and ever growing group. Some members have both personal and professional experience in and/or ties to Israel and Palestine. Others are close followers of the news or knowledgeable about local politics, peace and militarism, humanitarian work, etc. Because of this knowledge and our collaborative process with a diverse group of people whereby differing viewpoints were explored, debated, and negotiated, a resolution was created that has been praised by others. Bill Newman, on his radio show Talk the Talk, stated that it was the “best crafted cease-fire resolution he has seen.” The news of the moment — Al Shifa Hospital’s destruction and killing of World Central Kitchen humanitarian workers in an air strike — shows how our carefully chosen words and four calls to action are intertwined and dependent on one another. The immediate and permanent cease-fire is a necessary step toward the provision of lifesaving humanitarian aid in Gaza as well as the release of all hostages and detainees on both sides. The end to unconditional U.S. aid to the Israeli government would create the pressure needed for the cease-fire and longer term rebuilding and peace. The four calls are actually a protective circle that we wish to be placed around the people in Gaza (both the more than two million Gazans and the remaining about 100 hostages) so they may live.

Carolyn Cushing

Easthampton