MINNEAPOLIS — The Minneapolis City Council will take two weeks to work on a ceasefire resolution introduced at Monday's first meeting of the year.
An overflow crowd showed up at the city's public service building, demanding the council vote immediately on the resolution, as other cities, including Atlanta and Detroit have done. Supporters will have to wait at least two weeks for that to happen.
The council voted to refer it to a committee for study and possible changes, and then bring it back to the full council depending on how that process goes.
The resolution in its current form calls for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Thousands of civilians have been killed in that territory during three months of intense bombardments and fighting sparked by the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
The proposed resolution also urges Congress and President Biden to end U.S. military support for Israel. It calls for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and the release of Palestinians held by Israelis from now.
The proposed resolution was drafted by council members Aisha Chughtai, Auren Chowdhury, Elliott Payne, Jeremiah Ellison and Jason Chavez.
"While I appreciate foreign policy is not the responsibility of this body, I believe it is our responsibility to express the collective values of our constituents and of this community and this resolution is an important part of our work to reflect those shared values," Chowdhury told her colleagues and the audience in Monday's meeting.
Council member Linea Palmisano opposes the idea of a resolution. She said the council should listen to the concerns of Jews and Muslims, Israelis and Palestinians, but not enter the fray of sending statements to Washington.
"Peace, decency and love need to be priority here. That's best done without slicing and dicing a foreign policy position in this moment," Palmisano explained.
The resolution in its current form doesn't use the word "genocide" to describe the deaths of civilians or the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza now.
Council member Robin Wonsley said she was upset that the council has been under intense pressure to avoid certain language.
"And I want to be very clear Israel is committing a genocide!" Wonsley said, as the demonstrators broke into wild applause.
"I bow to you sister! You have so much courage! You have so much courage, sister!" Sabri Wazwaz of the Anti-War Committee shouted from his place in the crowd.
Mayor Frey has said he opposes any resolution that is too one-sided.
The Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas issued the following statement in response to the meeting:
"While JCRC does not believe that any such resolution should be a priority for the Minneapolis City Council given the pressing needs of the city, if the Council is intent on passing a resolution regarding the Israel-Hamas War, further conversation with constituents and community stakeholders is necessary to produce language that brings people together and reflects our shared values of embracing the humanity of Israelis and Palestinians alike."
The earliest the council will vote on this resolution would be Jan. 23, depending on how the discussion and debate goes in committee.