For over seven months, we’ve been watching genocide live-streamed to our phones, watching in horror as entire Palestinian families are wiped out in Gaza by the Israeli military using weapons paid for by our tax dollars. Over 36,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, a majority of which are women and children, with over double that number injured. More than 50 percent of all the structures in Gaza have been damaged—360,000 housing units damaged, schools, hospitals, and places of worship decimated. The United Nations Human Rights Office released a special report in March 2024 claiming, “By analysing the patterns of violence and Israel’s policies in its onslaught on Gaza, this report concludes that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the threshold indicating Israel’s commission of genocide is met.”

We urge Lancaster City Council to introduce and pass a resolution calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages and prisoners held by both Hamas and Israel. Lancaster is itself home to refugees from Gaza, many of whom still have family there. If Lancaster is to ever be the future home to Palestinians who have left Gaza due to the destruction, they will feel more welcome and safe in Lancaster knowing a ceasefire resolution was passed. Ceasefire is the welcoming standard.

We have collaboratively drafted a resolution that we are asking Lancaster City Council to introduce and pass. The resolution has received input from members of the Palestinian and Jewish communities, and we believe it centers the need for peace and an end to the death and destruction. Lancaster would be in good company with other municipalities in the Commonwealth that have passed ceasefire resolutions, like Erie and State College. Passing municipal-level ceasefire resolutions signals upward to the state and federal governments what constituents are calling for—an immediate and permanent ceasefire. The genocide in Gaza is a local concern. Weapons paid for by our tax dollars are being used to kill innocent civilians including the family members of current Palestinian refugees in Lancaster.

We’re calling upon our elected officials to stand on the right side of history by calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

With urgency,

Lancaster Palestine Coalition
Lancaster Democratic Socialists of America
Lancaster Stands Up
Mennonite Action Lancaster
Lancaster Changemakers
Party for Socialism and Liberation Lancaster
Lancaster Abolition Group
Franklin & Marshall Coalition for Peace and Justice
Peace Action Network of Lancaster

• Sign onto the letter.
• View the proposed resolution.
• View the ceasefire resolution toolkit.
• View the most recent version in Google Docs.