Calls for a cease-fire resolution in San Bruno

“Thousands of Palestinians are dead and passing a resolution is the bare minimum,” resident Batool Zaro said.

Councilmembers are legally prohibited from speaking about items that aren’t on the agenda during the meeting, but Councilmember Marty Medina said he would like to see steps taken toward placing a resolution on the agenda, which would begin with a study session. Councilmember Sandy Alvarez said she wanted more perspective on the conflict from differing sides before making a decision.

Mayor Rico Medina and Councilmember Michael Salazar did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Councilmember Tom Hamilton did not respond to requests for comment because of outdated contact information. 

Marty Medina said he has been working to organize a meeting with those who spoke at public comment and talk next steps for a potential resolution. The process could be lengthy, he said, because the council will not meet again until Jan. 9 and would require multiple members on board with a study session to even discuss placing a resolution on the agenda, which then must have a majority vote to pass.

“When something of this magnitude happens to a portion of the community of course you’re going to listen, but what are we going to do about it? That’s why I’m compelled to ask for the minimum of, ‘we need the fighting to stop, so the people who are innocent can get out of the way,’” he said. “Being silent isn’t an option, because we’re not serving the public by being silent. We’re not taking sides, we just want the people who are innocent to get safely out of the way.”

The requests come as at least 18,700 Palestinians have been killed by Israel’s air and ground assault response to Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, which killed more than 1,400 Israelis and originally took around 240 hostage, according to the Associated Press.

The international community has also shown growing alarm about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In the Bay Area, cease-fire resolutions were passed in Oakland and Richmond, and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors recently proposed one. At the Dec. 18 Foster City Council meeting, a request by Councilmember Sam Hindi will be heard about placing an item on a future agenda calling for a cease-fire, the release of all hostages and for humanitarian aid.

The community members who spoke at the San Bruno meeting urged the City Council to “think globally to act locally,” to initiate change, as one Palestinian San Bruno resident, Kamilah Albahri, said, and reminding councilmembers of San Bruno’s vibrant Palestinian community.

“The Palestinians in San Bruno are a touch point of this city, if you ask anyone who grew up there or went through the San Bruno … School District, they’ll tell you they had a Palestinian classmate or a dear Palestinian friend,” Albahri said.

She pointed to Palestinian-owned restaurants, like Seniore’s Pizza, Lotus Falafel and Shawerma, Mazra and Besan’s International Market as examples of Palestinian hospitality and warmth in San Bruno, and asked the city to honor the desires of constituents who contribute to the community.

“I will tell you, every time I go out, I see a fellow Palestinian. It’s an incredible feeling to know I can raise my children in a city where they have a sense of belonging, one I didn’t have growing up,” Albahri said. “I implore you to think globally by acting locally … the constituents of this city want an immediate cease-fire.”

Councilmember Alvarez said that she’s “been distancing herself from negative news,” but after receiving similar emails from constituents, she has been attempting to fully educate herself on the conflict. On the whole, however, she doesn’t think it’s wise for local governments to comment on international affairs, she said.

“This is an upper level government decision and we are on the bottom of the local … it wouldn’t be the local government’s place to make that initial move,” she said.

During public comment, Eleni Katout shared the story of her family’s forcible displacement from Palestine in 1948 and said she was not asking for the council to condemn Israel, but rather to support what 80% of Democrats and 60% of the general electorate want to see in the region — a humanitarian cease-fire.

“I feel grateful to have witnessed the love and compassion the city has for its diverse citizens but I am disappointed to see a cease-fire resolution is not on the agenda for today despite the express wishes of the public,” she said. “All of what I have told you is true, but I am not asking for you to condemn Israel, I am only asking for you to call for a cease-fire and to end the human suffering. Enough is enough … there is no justification for this brutality anymore.”

Katout also called on councilmembers who were up for reelection next year.

“Councilman Hamilton, Councilman Salazar and Mayor Medina you are all up for reelection this coming year. Do not underestimate the interconnectedness of the Arab community in San Bruno. We all vote. If the cease-fire does not make it on the agenda before winter break I will do everything in my power to mobilize my community and make sure you are defeated in this next election. Please use your voices as a catalyst for peace and humanity,” she said.

Alvarez said the City Council should not agendize anything solely because of the threat of not being reelected, and she was somewhat disappointed by the message that comment sent.

Speakers at public comment also said that a cease-fire resolution could make Palestinian and Muslim communities in San Bruno feel protected and safe amidst increasing Islamophobia and violence across the country.

“We need to call for a cease-fire to protect the Palestinian, Muslim and Arab communities in San Bruno. By not doing this, you guys will continue the dehumanization of us and put a target on our back,” Neda Jamaly, a Palestinian San Bruno resident, said. “Additionally, as a city, we need to put pressure on our federally elected officials to take action and hold them accountable.”

Note to readers: This story has been changed. Previously, the story said Councilmember Tom Hamilton did not respond to requests for comment. Hamilton did not respond because of outdated contact information.