Portsmouth declines Gaza cease-fire vote; Durham passes revised resolution

PORTSMOUTH — The City Council refused to take up a controversial resolution calling for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

The council voted 7-2 nearly four hours into its meeting Monday night not to take up the resolution drafted by City Councilors Josh Denton and Kate Cook.

Only Cook and Denton voted against a “point of order” raised by City Councilor Beth Moreau, who was opposed to considering the resolution.

Moreau raised “an objection to the consideration” of the resolution, stating she did not believe “we actually have the authority to make a decision” on the issue.

The council’s vote came after numerous supporters of Israel and Palestine argued passionately both in opposition to and in support of the resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas conflict, and in favor of providing humanitarian aid in Gaza.

City Attorney Susan Morrell said because of the issue raised by Moreau, there would be no debate on the resolution, just a vote.

“It’s really a straightforward request, an objection to considering the motion at all, so I’m not sure that reading the actual resolution that’s in the packet would be appropriate,” Morrell said when Denton asked to read the resolution.

Hamas terrorists attacked Israeli civilians on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people, according to an Associated Press report. Many were sexually assaulted and about 250 people were taken hostage with 130 remaining captive and about 25% of them believed to be dead, according to the AP report.

Israel's attacks in Gaza have killed more than 30,000 Palestinians since Hamas' attacked Israel, the AP has reported, citing numbers reported by Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not differentiate combatants from civilians.

Israel supporter on cease-fire resolution proposal: 'Why now?'

Portsmouth resident Ari Alexenberg has lived in the city for more than 30 years, but grew up in Israel, he told the City Council.

He has family and many friends still living in Israel, including his parents, siblings and his daughter.

After watching a recent City Council meeting where pro-Palestine residents spoke in support of a cease-fire, he said, he came away “appalled at the terminology used to demonize Israel.”

Alexenberg said Israel repeatedly warns civilians before it attacks suspected Hamas terrorists in advance of taking any action.

“The Israeli response is fierce, no doubt, it is committed to making sure Hamas cannot repeat its atrocities again,” he said.

In terms of the resolution, “my question is, why now?” Alexenberg said. “Why didn’t we put a resolution out after Oct. 7? Why are we waiting five months later?

“It seems to me it is unwise for the city of Portsmouth to delve into and create resolutions on international affairs,” he said. “If the council decides to go forward with this resolution, I think it is imperative to include that … Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, violated a cease-fire on Oct. 7, committing horrific acts of terrorism and continues to commit war crimes by indiscriminately targeting Israeli civilians with ongoing rocket fire and using Palestinian civilians as human shields.”

He noted said Israel is a democracy and “staunch ally of the Untied States while Hamas is a terrorist organization that has the blood of not only Israelis but of American citizens on its hands.”

Portsmouth resident Seth Levine, who also has family in Israel, said he “encountered antisemitism here in Portsmouth just recently.”

When he put up a sign supporting Israel, someone stole it, he said.

He told the council that Arabs in the Middle East “simply don’t want a Jewish state” and added they don’t “want any Jews” either.

“Hamas is really, really dangerous, just look at the pictures and you’ll see,” Levine said.

He reminded the council "that “"this war wasn’t started by Israel, it was started by Hamas.”

Cease-fire resolution supporter praises Cook and Denton

Portsmouth resident Yussra Ebrahim credited Cook and Denton for bringing the cease fire resolution forward.

“Through this act of humanity they have taken a stand for justice in a very dark time,” she said. “Unfortunately they knew they’d have to dilute this principled stand in order to give this resolution a chance of passing by removing the word genocide.”

She alleged Israel was responsible for the “targeted murder of  thousands of civilians.”

“Over two-thirds of the dead are women and children,” she added.

“We have asked this council to acknowledge that Palestinian lives do hold value,” she said.

Portsmouth resident Yasmin Alani told the council the “war is not an Israeli Hamas war.”

“This is a genocide against the people of Palestine, more than 30,000 people have been killed, and 80,000 maimed and injured,” she said. “Actions speak volumes.”

Durham passes cease-fire resolution after making revisions

In Durham, the Town Council voted 6-2 to approve their cease-fire resolution after making some changes to it, according to Town Administrator Todd Selig.

The resolution approved by the council called for “a durable bilateral cease fire,” humanitarian aid to Gaza and the safe release of all hostages, Selig said.

The Town Council also heard about two hours of public comment, with speakers coming out on both sides of the issue, Selig said.

“It was a thoughtful and respectful conversation with points of view aired on all sides of the issue,” he said.

The Town Council “thoughtfully listened to all of that and worked hard to integrate different perspectives into the discussion,” Selig said.

He described the process as “the very best of an open transparent and Democratic process … where residents were able to express their strongly held views in a safe environment.”

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth declines Gaza cease-fire vote; Durham passes resolution