The Feb. 10 letter “Stand With Israel” misstates the process we went through in Port Angeles in considering a city resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza.
At the Dec. 19, and Jan. 2 Port Angeles City Council meetings, a total of 22 people spoke in favor of the Gaza ceasefire resolution whereas only 19 people opposed it, not 30 people opposed as the writer claims.
Many comments by opponents were hateful and xenophobic, restating fake news that dehumanized Palestinians.
In contrast, proponents spoke to human rights, how to create justice given the long history of oppression against Palestinians going back to the Nakba and the ongoing United States funding of the Israeli military.
Since those meetings, the International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent genocide in Gaza.
The 1948 treaty Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide is a unique law in that it requires all states to proactively act to prevent genocide.
But the Israeli government and the United States government have not changed their actions.
A ceasefire now is the only legal, moral and ethical way forward.
Lindsey Schromen-Wawrin
Port Angeles
EDITOR’S NOTE: Lindsey Schromen-Wawrin is a Port Angeles City Council member.