Gaza Ceasefire Resolution Defeated After Intense Debate By Howard County Council

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — A resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza failed Monday night at a Howard County Council meeting after heated debate over the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

Proponents of the measure felt it reflected local residents' concerns, while others said it was a waste of time and money for county leaders to consider.

Resolution CR22-2024 read, "A resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, calling upon the Biden administration to facilitate certain humanitarian assistance into Gaza and urging certain elected officials to take immediate action to use their position and influence to end this humanitarian crisis."

Councilmember Liz Walsh introduced the resolution, saying she proposed the measure after seeing how many Howard County residents have been affected by the conflict.

The Associated Press reported Monday the known Palestinian death toll was 27,478 people after nearly four months of war. A quarter of Gaza’s residents are now starving and 85% of the population has been driven from their homes. Israel declared war Oct. 7when Hamas stormed into southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and militants abducted around 250 others.

"Early on, some of the opposition we heard to the ceasefire resolution is, 'Why are you, Howard County Council, getting into an issue like this?' It's because it affects so many of our residents so profoundly, so deeply. And we want to have a conversation," Walsh said at the meeting.

People packed the council chambers in Ellicott City and an overflow room had to be opened. Security officers were present.

"What this means is our government is listening to our people and they are representing their constituents and the matters and issues they care for," supporter of the resolution Sami Elzaharna told WBAL.

"This affects me disproportionately," Elzaharna also told WMAR. "Many members of my family were either killed or died due to a lack of medicine, lack of food. Something I care about on a personal level, but also care about as a religious member in this community here in Howard County."

However, opponents to the measure believed it wasn't appropriate for county leaders to focus on the issue at a local level.

"This is completely outside the scope of any county councilmember's job. We have a lot of problems in Howard County and it's just wasting taxpayer time and money focusing on this resolution. No one outside of Howard County cares what (Councilwoman) Liz Walsh thinks," opponent of the measure Rachel Coutts told WBAL.

"The thing that's most disconcerting about Liz Walsh's resolution is that it doesn't call for [the] release of hostages, which Jamie Raskin, U.S. congressperson has called for, which many, many federal officials have called for," Geoffrey Greene, a Howard County resident, told WMAR.

When a vote was called for, supporters raised their hands with their palms painted red. The chairperson called for order and threatened to remove anyone who disrupted the meeting. One side of the room waved Israeli flags, while the other displayed Palestinian flags.

The resolution failed 3-1. Deb Jung, the council chair, said using the local council for this issue would be inappropriate and thanked attendees for coming to the meeting.

"Like many of the residents in the Council chamber tonight, I hope and pray for a ceasefire that results in a lasting peace in the region. For the first time in many long and painful days we are learning that an agreement between the two sides is being considered. While I sincerely hope these efforts succeed, I believe the use of a County Council resolution is inappropriate for such an issue and will likely create unnecessary division in our community without any real possibility of advancing the prospects of peace," Jung said in a statement.

"I'm so thankful that our county council sees and realizes that that is not an appropriate statement for them to be calling for a ceasefire," Angela Krozy told WBAL.

"This fight's not over. Tonight, you saw the community that came out in full force. We have a responsibility to speak up and hold our elected officials accountable," Maryland Council on American-Islamic Relations director Zainab Chaudry stated.

For those wanting to voice their concerns, there will be a public forum Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. at the Meadowbrook Athletic Complex, 5001 Meadowbrook Lane, Ellicott City.