Bethlehem, PA — Bethlehem City Council failed to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza on Tuesday. In response, dozens of members of Lehigh Valley Artists for a Free Palestine, Lehigh University’s Student Political Action Coalition, Jewish Voice for Peace, Muslim Youth Lehigh Valley, LEPOCO, and several other student and community organizations gathered outside the rotunda and convened an emergency “People’s Council” which read and passed the resolution in an act of protest.

City Council had previously committed to vote on a ceasefire resolution after hearing hours of public comment on the devastation of the genocide and the urgent need for local officials to put pressure on Congress and Presdient Biden to take strong action to stop the killing. When no member of council submitted a resolution prior to Tuesday’s meeting, a coalition of organizers drafted a resolution and asked council to move to debate, amend, and pass it immediately. The resolution ultimately failed. Jon Irons, Lehigh County Commissioner and Bethlehem resident said, “I am deeply disappointed in the council’s unwillingness to deliver on their commitment to vote on a ceasefire resolution tonight. A genocide is occuring before our eyes day by day, we cannot let this sort of catastrophe become business as usual. Every wasted week means hundreds or thousands of more innocent lives lost to a genocide enabled by US military and political support.”

The people’s ceasefire resolution calls for an immediate, permanent ceasefire in the Israeli bombardment and occupation of Gaza. The resolution also calls for the Biden administration to end military assistance to Israel, for an increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza, and for the immediate return of hostages and detainees between Palestine and Israel. Prior to the City Council meeting, dozens of residents in support of the resolution processed from Farrington Square to Payrow Plaza to memorialize the more than 30,000 Palestinian women and children killed by the Israeli military since October 7th. The coalition will continue to advocate for Bethlehem City Council to pass a ceasefire resolution.

Information provided to TVL by:
Raya