Events shine light on Gaza in Redwood City

“We need to have a peace agreement where [Palestinians] have their own human rights,” Esti Shohat Rozenfeld, an Israeli organizer, said for the upcoming rally. “We’re looking to assure everyone that we believe in peace and that democratic process is the best way for the war to end.”

The Oct. 7 attack by Hamas caused 1,400 deaths in Israel and 240 people were taken hostage. Around 100 hostages are believed to be alive, and The Associated Press reports Hamas has the remains of 30 others. The subsequent Israeli invasion in Gaza has resulted in more than 30,000 Palestinian dead. The ongoing conflict has caused widespread destruction in Gaza, displacing four-fifths of the population and causing a humanitarian crisis.

President Joe Biden announced plans Thursday that the United States will set up a temporary port off Gaza for food and other aid, according to The Associated Press.

With Ramadan days away, the United States is leading talks for a six-week cease-fire. However, senior Hamas official Osama Hamdam said they demand a permanent cease-fire and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces before they would release hostages, according to The Associated Press.

In Redwood City, the vigil served as a place to mourn.

The group gathered in front of the San Mateo County History Museum steps that were adorned with various offerings, from flowers and candles to keffiyehs and Palestine flags.

Backed by Jewish Voice for Peace Peninsula, the Silicon Valley Democratic Socialists of America, the Council on American-Islamic Relations San Francisco Bay Area and the Cañada Students for Justice in Palestine, the vigil provided a place to mourn and listen to concerned members of the community give speeches on their experiences.

Brian Mancilla, a concerned resident of Redwood City and one of the organizers for the event, said that this vigil was to give residents the opportunity to process their emotions.

“This is the first live broadcasted genocide. We go on our phones and it’s really hard to ignore,” Mancilla said. “We’re being traumatized every day and we’re not given a space to heal, to express our grief, our sadness, our anger, our frustrations at our leadership.”

Mancilla said it was important to base this event in Redwood City because of the demographics of the city and San Mateo County.

“This hits close because we have such a large Arab population, we have Palestinian residents mourning,” he said. “My neighbor has lost 42 family members, another one of my neighbor’s family is hiding in the last church in Gaza that has yet to be bombed.”

One of the speakers, Samaher Bayyari, said it was important to host this vigil at the Courthouse Square.

“Redwood City is the epicenter of the Peninsula,” she said.

“This is the place where everyone gathers. Just think of how many special moments have come from this courthouse area. This is the spot.”

In her speech, Bayyari spoke of her experience as Palestinian living in the diaspora.

“I’m sharing my story of being able to have lived in such a progressive place like the Bay Area,” Bayyari said. “But, at the same time, we have to be able to acknowledge what’s going on in Palestine. We can’t turn a blind eye and go back to the status quo and think it doesn’t affect us.”

Shohat Rozenfeld said Saturday’s rally aims to call for a bilateral cease-fire, a full hostage deal and ultimately diplomacy.

“Anyone that asks for peace is our friend,” Rozenfeld said. “We want as many people as possible asking for peace and democratic processes.”

Saturday’s 3 p.m. rally will have speakers of varying backgrounds and opinions, such as Jeremy Ben-Ami, the president of J Street, an pro-Israel organization that calls for peace and democracy.

“You can be pro-Israel and still want to end the occupation,” Shohat Rozenfeld said. “Diplomatic process is the only way, no matter what the solution may be.”

Redwood City Vice Mayor Lissette Espinoza-Garnica and Councilmember Chris Sturken attended the vigil. Espinoza-Garnica asked the council to discuss whether a cease-fire resolution should be placed on a future agenda. The City Council meeting is 6 p.m. Monday, March 11, at City Hall, 1017 Middlefield Road. Go to https://meetings.redwoodcity.org/AgendaOnline/Meetings/ViewMeeting?id=2496&doctype=1 to see the agenda and potential resolution.

Numerous cities throughout the Bay Area have discussed passing such resolutions over the last few months, with the San Bruno, Foster City and San Mateo city councils ultimately rejecting requests to add it to future agendas. San Francisco and Oakland have passed cease-fire-related resolutions in the last several months, and South San Francisco indicated support for one during last week’s council meeting. On Monday, March 4, San Mateo County Board of Supervisor Noelia Corzo, who represents District 2, proposed a resolution at the San Mateo Medical Center Board declaring support for health care workers in Gaza. Supervisor David Canepa said he was against the measure but, with seven other board members abstaining, there was no vote.

“Although they might not think it’s not going anywhere, as a community it is directly affecting us,” Bayyari said. “If it’s directly affecting us as your citizens and your constituents, you should be able to make us feel like we’re validated.”

Note to readers: This article has been updated to include two additional organizations that were a part of organizing Wednesday's vigil.