Hood River City Council to Consider Gaza Ceasefire Resolution
Gorge community members rally to support Gaza ceasefire resolution.
Community members gathered i support of Gaza on Feb. 9. Photo credit: Paul Crowley.
By Susan Crowley
Hood River, Ore., February 12, 2024 – The Hood River City Council agreed unanimously to place a resolution calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza on an upcoming agenda for consideration and public testimony. Hood River ministers Rev. Vicky Stifter and Rev. John Boonstra, representing an interfaith coalition, urged the council to endorse the resolution.
The conflict has killed over 28,500 Gazans since Oct. 7, Boonstra testified. "Lead the way," he urged. "Indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians is a violation of international humanitarian law." The dead include 11,500 children, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.
Boonstra listed some of the more than 50 US. cities that have so far endorsed such a ceasefire resolution. Also speaking in support of the resolution was local resident Houssein Salman, accompanied by members of his family.
"Peace must be built on trust and love for humanity without any conditions, where enemies will learn to live side by side," added Houssein Salman after the Feb. 12 City Council meeting. "We must stand for what is right for every country to live in peace without persecution, death, or destruction."
Members of the Columbia Gorge interfaith community have been active for several months in support of a permanent Gaza Ceasefire. Led by Stifter and Boonstra, they rallied for the fourth time on Feb. 9 across the street from the Hood River City Hall.
"We come from a variety of faith traditions, united by a desire to end the killing and starvation of children, women and men in Gaza" said Stifter. "We seek to create conditions for the people of Palestine and Israel to flourish in peace and live with justice.”
The rally on Feb. 9 concluded with a group speakerphone call initiated by Stifter to the office of Sen. Ron Wyden, urging Wyden to join his colleague Sen. Jeff Merkley in supporting a ceasefire. "Ceasefire now!" the group called out to Wyden.
The gathering is part of a weekly series that will occur beside the Hood River City Hall each Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. until a permanent ceasefire is in place, according to organizers.
