Outrage as Speakers Defend Hamas During Oakland City Council Meeting Nov 29, 2023 at 6:58 AM EST
By James Bickerton US News Reporter 11
There was outrage on social media after a number of speakers defended Hamas during an Oakland city council meeting which voted for an "immediate ceasefire" between Israel and the Palestinian group on Monday. Some falsely suggested either the October 7 massacre didn't happen or that the Israeli military was heavily involved in the mass killing of Jews. The council voted 8-0 to demand "an immediate ceasefire; release of all hostages; the unrestricted entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza; the restoration of food, water, electricity, and medical supplies to Gaza; the respect for international law; and calls for a resolution that protects the security of all innocent civilians."
However, an amendment proposed by council member Dan Kalb explicitly condemning the killings and the taking of hostages by Hamas was voted down by six votes to two. On October 7, thousands of militant gunmen launched a surprise assault on southern Israel, leaving 1,200 dead and taking another 240 hostages back to Gaza. In response, Israel launched an air and ground campaign which has left more than 12,700 Palestinians dead, The Associated Press reported, citing the Hamas-run Health Ministry. More than 500 members of the public signed up to speak at Monday's council meeting in Oakland, some of whom expressed sympathy for Hamas, which is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S., E.U. and U.K.
https://www.newsweek.com/outrage-speakers-defend-hamas-oakland-city-council-meeting-1847880
By James Bickerton US News Reporter 11
There was outrage on social media after a number of speakers defended Hamas during an Oakland city council meeting which voted for an "immediate ceasefire" between Israel and the Palestinian group on Monday. Some falsely suggested either the October 7 massacre didn't happen or that the Israeli military was heavily involved in the mass killing of Jews. The council voted 8-0 to demand "an immediate ceasefire; release of all hostages; the unrestricted entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza; the restoration of food, water, electricity, and medical supplies to Gaza; the respect for international law; and calls for a resolution that protects the security of all innocent civilians."
However, an amendment proposed by council member Dan Kalb explicitly condemning the killings and the taking of hostages by Hamas was voted down by six votes to two. On October 7, thousands of militant gunmen launched a surprise assault on southern Israel, leaving 1,200 dead and taking another 240 hostages back to Gaza. In response, Israel launched an air and ground campaign which has left more than 12,700 Palestinians dead, The Associated Press reported, citing the Hamas-run Health Ministry. More than 500 members of the public signed up to speak at Monday's council meeting in Oakland, some of whom expressed sympathy for Hamas, which is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S., E.U. and U.K.
https://www.newsweek.com/outrage-speakers-defend-hamas-oakland-city-council-meeting-1847880