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Santa Clara County Democratic Party Condemns Israel, U.S. Support for Gaza Genocide

SAN JOSE, California - The Santa Clara County Democratic Party (SCCDP) has approved a resolution condemning the genocide in Gaza, demanding an end to U.S. military assistance in violation of U.S. and international law, and calling for a just peace based on equality and human rights.

"It's been two years since the destruction of Gaza began. It's time to acknowledge that Israel is guilty of genocide," said Dina Saba, president of Democrats for Palestinian Rights - Bay Area. "I'm pleased and proud that the Santa Clara Democratic Party is standing up for the right of Palestinians to live their lives free of violence and oppression."

The party's central committee members voted 27-7, with five abstentions, to approve the resolution at their Oct. 9 monthly meeting. The vote marks the first time the SCCDP has publicly used the word "genocide" to describe Israel's actions in Gaza.

The resolution strongly censures Israel for forcing starvation on the people of Gaza; practicing apartheid; destroying universities and hospitals; and kidnapping, torturing and killing Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as well as Gaza. It also condemns the United States for funding the genocide and notes that Israel's ethnic cleansing campaign undermines its own security. "The SCCDP condemns Israel's intentional starvation and forced displacement and expulsion of Palestinians and calls on Israel to end the genocide immediately," the resolution states.

"The SCCDP urges an end to U.S. military assistance enabling violations of international and US laws." 

Afro Umoja Political Representation in Silicon Valley and Muslim Democrats and Friends of Santa Clara County co-sponsored the resolution. 

"Afro-UPRIS stands in solidarity with all Palestinians, the people of Gaza and oppressed people around the world," said Tomara Hall, president of Afro-UPRIS. "As a Black Democrats club, we understand the commonality of struggles that Black, Palestinian, Middle Eastern and Muslim communities all experience."

Sameena Usman, chair of the Muslim Democrats and Friends of Santa Clara County, added, "This resolution affirms that genocide is not a democratic value. It is a moral imperative that our tax dollars no longer fund the killing and displacement of innocent civilians, but instead be used to uplift those in need — both at home and abroad.” 

Resolution on U.S. Policy and the Humanitarian Crisis in Palestine

WHEREAS the US-funded Israeli genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza with the forced displacement of the indigenous population and the occupation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem where Palestinians experience constant dehumanization, land theft, home demolitions, apartheid, escalation of illegal Israeli settler violence, destruction of resources, attempts to erase Palestine history, and killing of Palestinians and Americans is in violation of international humanitarian laws; genocide is not a democratic value; and our American tax dollars should instead be invested in helping American citizens, residents, immigrants and the most vulnerable among us; and

‍WHEREAS Israel's 18-year blockade of Gaza and the current military campaign have created catastrophic humanitarian conditions described by international experts as collective punishment, including the targeted killing of possibly hundreds of thousands of civilians, over 250 journalists, killing or kidnapping and torturing over 1,400 healthcare workers and humanitarian aid workers, mass forced displacement, purposeful and repeated attacks on and destruction of universities, hospitals, schools, libraries, agriculture, historical and cultural sites, churches and mosques, and other civilian infrastructure; weaponization of starvation through deliberate throttling of aid including live fire on aid seekers by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has been widely condemned; and 80% of Israelis support the forced expulsion of Palestinians; and

‍WHEREAS prolonging this crisis not only risks mass civilian death and the collapse of fragile health and social systems for Palestinians, it also undermines Israel's global legitimacy and security while threatening broader regional stability and the credibility of international humanitarian norms;

‍THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the SCCDP condemns Israel's intentional starvation and forced displacement and expulsion of Palestinians and calls on Israel to end the genocide immediately and attacks on hospitals, schools, civilian sites, journalists, medical personnel, and humanitarian workers and the use of starvation and deprivation as weapons of war; and to expedite safe passage of humanitarian aid in Gaza; and

‍BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED while long-term political solutions remain essential, the immediate priority must be to prevent further humanitarian catastrophe and regional destabilization; the SCCDP urges an end to U.S. military assistance enabling violations of international and US laws, redirect resources toward humanitarian relief, diplomacy, healthcare, and education, and support initiatives that prioritize protection of civilians, accountability, and a just peace based on equality, human rights, and self-determination.

Co-Sponsored by: Democrats for Palestinian Rights - Bay Area, Muslim Democrats and Friends of Santa Clara County, Afro Umoja Political Representation in Silicon Valley (Afro UPRIS)