Dane County Board Approves Call for a Ceasefire in Gaza

February 19, 2024
County Board Supervisor Kierstin Huelsemann, (608) 291-5184
County Board

At its meeting last Thursday, the Dane County Board of Supervisors approved 2023 Resolution 333, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. The resolution, introduced by County Board Supervisor Kierstin Huelsemann (District 27), calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and urgent political action both to de-escalate the crisis and to prioritize truth, reconciliation, restitution, and the building of a future for the Israeli and Palestinian people.

Dane County joins local governments across the nation, including Cudahy, San Francisco, Oakland and Richmond, California; Wilmington, Delaware; Carrboro, North Carolina; Providence, Rhode Island; Detroit, Michigan; Atlanta, Georgia; and Madison, Wisconsin in passing a resolution calling for a ceasefire. At least 68 members of Congress also have publicly called for a ceasefire in Gaza.

In addition to urging an immediate release of all hostages and cessation of hostilities toward civilians by all parties in the war, the resolution also urges the Biden Administration and elected Senate and Congress members to oppose additional funding for military action against Israelis and Palestinians in this war, and to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

“The targeting of civilians, no matter their religion or ethnicity, is a violation of international humanitarian law,” said Huelsemann. “We cannot be silent in the face of the tremendous loss of life and the deepening humanitarian crisis, starvation, and displacement of fellow human beings that grows with each day this war continues.”

According to the United Nations, since the start of the war on October 7, 2023, more than 100,000 people in Gaza have been killed, injured, or are missing, and over 2 million people have been displaced.

Two related resolutions—Res. 314 (Sub 1) Condemning Antisemitism and Res. 321 Condemning Islamophobia—also passed the County Board last week.

Supervisor Huelsemann spoke on the intersection of all three resolutions, saying, “I want to encourage all Dane County residents to recognize the diversity of religions and cultures in our community, and in the world, as a source of richness and strength.”