On November 20th, 2023, Cambridge City Councillors failed to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. If passed, the policy order would back Massachusetts State Representative Ayanna Pressley’s support for a nationwide Ceasefire Now Resolution and pressure Joe Biden to do the same.
Had the resolution passed, Cambridge would join a large cohort of US cities—including Oakland, Detroit, and Atlanta—in support of a permanent ceasefire. However, the results of the vote position Cambridge as the largest American city to fail to pass a ceasefire resolution.
Prior to the City Council meeting, a vigil took place at City Hall to honor Palestinian victims of Israel’s recent attacks on Gaza. Discussion of the resolution opened with several hours of public comment. This included State Representative Mike Connelly who reiterated his call for a ceasefire immediately, stating that, “[he stands] in solidarity with Jews, Muslims, Palestinians, Israelis and people of all faiths and backgrounds who are calling for peace, for de-escalation, for the safe return of hostages, for the delivery of humanitarian aid, and for an end to the killing of innocent civilians.” Additional commentators consisted primarily of Cantabrigians in favor of a ceasefire, as well as a few residents who opposed the resolution.
After public comment, City Councillor Zondervan and Mayor Siddiqui, the cosponsors of the policy order, stated their introductory remarks on the bill; which Zondervan described as a “call for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid to civilians, and to free all the hostages.” Following these remarks, Councilor Patty Nolan blocked further discussion or amendments to the policy by calling the question early.
Nolan backed her motion to call the question by stating that foreign policy is not something that should be in the hands of the City Council. This critique had been mentioned earlier in Siddiqui’s statement, where she explained that “[she hears] that the matter of foreign policy is not the responsibility of the city council. But [she wants] to reiterate that there is a history in Cambridge of the council speaking out against violence and using our collective voice to call for peace. And for [her], this resolution is a continuation of that sentiment.”
Nolan’s motion passed, resulting in an early vote from the City Council. Motions to call a question are rare in city hall and they allow councilors to vote “present” to the resolution; as opposed to a typical yea or nay vote. The vote failed, with all council members voting “present” aside from Zondervan and Siddiqui.
The November City Council meeting is not the first time the council has faced such decisions. 14 years ago, a similar ceasefire resolution was passed unanimously by the Cambridge City Council. The 2009 resolution—which was brought on by a three-week-long Israeli ground invasion in Gaza—called for “an immediate end to all attacks on civilians on both sides.” The contrast between the City Council’s response to the two ceasefire bills brings up the question of what terminology and political differences dissuaded the City Council from the recent ceasefire resolution.
This article also appears in our December 2023 print edition.
