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Araiza, Fatima From: efrem joelson < Sent: Monday, December 04, 2023 6:50 PM To: eComment Cc: Amezcua, Valerie; Lopez, Jessie; Bacerra, Phil; Penaloza, David Subject: Vote NO on the Ceasefire Resolution Dear Council Members, The State Department revealed Monday the reason why Hamas continues to hold hostages underground is the Gaza Strip. More specifically, why they are refusing to release female hostages. According to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, the Iranian backed terrorist organization isn't releasing additional female hostages, who were violently taken from their homes and a music festival in Israel on October 7, because they know and have experienced too much while in captivity. In other words, they don't want them speaking out about what has been done to them. There are American hostages! I am writing to urge you not to participate in signing the Ceasefire Resolution submitted by Councilmembers Vazquez and Hernandez. Jews around the world are still reeling in the aftermath of the October 7th Hamas massacre in Israel - the single deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. Many of us have experienced and/or witnessed acts of antisemitism directly. Adopting a resolution that fails to explicitly condemn Hamas and the wave of antisemitism that followed their atrocities is condoning the acts of October 7th and their aftermath. The resolution faults Israel for a war started by Hamas. The loss of life and suffering is felt by both the Israelis and the Palestinians. The resolution minimizes the suffering of Israelis. 250,000 Israelis have been internally displaced due to the actions of Hamas and Hezbollah. Terrorists abducted 240 hostages on October 7th. This resolution calls Israel's prisoners, many of whom have committed crimes including stabbings and bombing populated civilian locations, hostages. Israelis want peace and a quick end to the war. A ceasefire with Hamas, as has been demonstrated repeatedly over time, will end in the spilling of Israeli blood. Senior Hamas leaders have indicated their intentions to continue in their goal to eradicate the land of Israel of Jews. Hamas is the catalyst for the Palestinian and Israeli casualties. The people of Gaza deserve a better future which is possible only once Hamas is gone. A ceasefire would perpetuate the status quo, allowing Hamas to continue to control and terrorize Gaza. Do not set a precedent that crimes against Israeli and Palestinian civilians pays off, by supporting this Ceasefire Resolution. The City of Santa Ana should not inadvertently incentivize more violence, at the expense of innocent Israelis and Palestinians. While this resolution may have been introduced with good intentions, I believe it would harm the Santa Ana community and only fuel more hatred and conflict. Please vote no on the Ceasefire Resolution. Thank you.