This:
Motion of the Council of Allegheny County urging the United States Federal Government to work cooperatively towards an immediate de-escalation and cease-fire in Israel and Palestine as well as the release of all hostages.
Whereas, all human life is precious, and the targeting of civilians, no matter their faith or ethnicity, is a violation of international humanitarian law; and
Whereas, on October 26th, the United Nations General Assembly, in a near unanimous vote, called for an immediate and sustained humanitarian ceasefire; and
Whereas, hundreds of thousands of lives are at imminent risk if a ceasefire is not achieved, and humanitarian aid is not delivered without delay; and
Whereas, the Federal Government holds immense diplomatic and appropriations powers to save Palestinian and Israeli lives;
The Council of the County of Allegheny therefore hereby moves as follows:
The Allegheny County Council calls upon our US Congressional delegation, both in the Senate and House of Representatives, to join us in urging the Biden administration to:
1. Immediately call for and facilitate de-escalation and a ceasefire to urgently end the current violence,
2. Immediately call for and facilitate a release of all hostages held in Palestine and Israel, and,
3. Promptly send and facilitate the entry of humanitarian assistance, at the scale needed, into Gaza.
Furthermore, the Allegheny County Council moves that, upon its passing, the bodies’ staff shall forward copies of this resolution to the President of the United States and our Congressional delegation.
As I said, they voted this down.
From The Trib:
Allegheny County Councilman Nicholas Futules summed up about five hours of public comment Tuesday night about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
“This world sucks,” he said.
The comment was made shortly before the 14 county council representatives in attendance voted 3-9-2 not to pass a resolution encouraging a ceasefire in the region.
Resolution sponsors Bethany Hallam, Anita Prizio and Dan Grzybek voted in favor of passage.
But dissenting were Futules, council President Patrick Cetena, Vice President John Palmiere, Jack Betkowski, Sam DeMarco, Robert Macey, Paul Klein, Robert Palmosina and Suzanne Filiaggi.
Council members Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis and David Bonaroti abstained. Councilman DeWitt Walton was absent.
(Side note: Sam DeMarco was one of Trump's "fake electors" and he's STILL on Allegheny County Council - just sayin')
Meanwhile, Reuters is reporting:
The United States on Tuesday revised language in a draft United Nations Security Council resolution to back "an immediate ceasefire of roughly six-weeks in Gaza together with the release of all hostages," according to the text seen by Reuters.
The third revision of the text - first proposed by the U.S. two weeks ago - now reflects blunt remarks by Vice President Kamala Harris. The initial U.S. draft had shown support for "a temporary ceasefire" in the Israel-Hamas war.The U.S. wants any Security Council support for a ceasefire to be linked to the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
And from The NYTimes, there's this about VP Harris' remarks:
Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday called for an “immediate cease-fire” in Gaza, saying that Hamas should agree to the six-week pause currently on the table and that Israel should increase the flow of aid into the besieged enclave amid a humanitarian crisis.
Ms. Harris’s remarks, delivered in Selma, Ala., bolstered a recent push by President Joe Biden for an agreement and came a day before she was to meet with a top Israeli cabinet official involved in war planning, Benny Gantz. Her tone echoed a sharper and more urgent tone coming from the White House as its frustration with Israel grows. Last month, the president called Israel’s response to the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack “over the top.”
Ms. Harris assailed the dire conditions in Gaza, calling the situation a “humanitarian catastrophe.” It was her most forceful assessment to date of the Middle East conflict, which has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians, according to Gazan health authorities, and put the enclave on the brink of famine.
“What we are seeing every day in Gaza is devastating,” Ms. Harris said. “We have seen reports of families eating leaves or animal feed. Women giving birth to malnourished babies with little or no medical care. And children dying from malnutrition and dehydration. As I have said many times, too many innocent Palestinians have been killed.”
Cease fire. Too many innocents have been killed.
But the County Council voted it down.
