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A resolution denouncing all acts of the United States Government and the State of Israel that contribute to a continuation of the genocide of the Palestinian people.
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WHEREAS, Article II of the Genocide Convention adopted by the United Nations General Assembly has defined genocide as “any of the following acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group, as such; 1) killing members of the group, 2) causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group, 3) deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part” and other acts; and
WHEREAS, international bodies and agencies including the UN Human Rights Council, The International Criminal Court, The International Association of Genocide Scholars, Genocide Watch, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and human rights activists, including Israeli academics and campaign groups, have each conducted investigations and concluded that the actions of the State of Israel in Palestine constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide; and
WHEREAS, in the third week of August 2025, Israeli Treasury Minister Bezalel Yoel Smotrich clearly stated that the goal of Israel is the total annihilation of Palestinians, and Israel was focusing its efforts of destruction on the civilian population, not military infrastructure, as a “change in the course of history”; and
WHEREAS, as of September 4, 2025, more than 248 journalists and media workers have been killed, making it the deadliest-ever conflict for journalists; and
WHEREAS, over 1,000 medical workers have been killed by Israeli forces, and hospitals have been targeted by the State of Israel; and
WHEREAS, as of August 2025, according to the Gazan Health Ministry, at least 60,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed since October 7, 2023, a figure that is likely underestimated by tens of thousands. At least 10,000 more are likely buried beneath rubble, of which an estimated 19,000 were children; and
WHEREAS, since March 2, 2025, the State of Israel has blocked aid supplies including food, fuel, water, and medicine from entering Gaza, and the Israeli defense minister, Israel Katz, said, “Israel’s policy is clear: no humanitarian aid will enter Gaza”; and
WHEREAS, the United States government has used tax-funded dollars to give the State of Israel approximately $34 billion in military weapons, arms, and other financial support, at least 69 percent of Israel’s arms imports come from the U.S., and U.S.-made military vehicles and weapons have been identified as being used to conduct acts of genocide; and
WHEREAS, U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu have plans underway to relocate Palestinians in Gaza to other countries, permanently displacing them, and taking their homeland to use as a real estate project; and
WHEREAS, the right to free speech as protected by the U.S. Constitution has been violated by arrests, imprisonment, deportation, and violent attacks by law enforcement on anti-genocide activists.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1: That the Metropolitan Council denounces all acts of the U.S. Government and the State of Israel that contribute to a continuation of the genocide of the Palestinian people.
Section 2: That the Council affirms that this humanitarian crisis calls for immediate actions, including the immediate cease all sales and transfers of military arms and financial support to the State of Israel.
Section 3: That the Council demands that using any and all diplomatic means possible, the U.S. Government and the State of Israel must protect of the right of Palestinian people to live in their homeland free from violence, as required by international law.
Section 4: That the Council rejects any efforts of U.S. federal and state governments to limit free speech by declaring that criticism of the policies of the government of the State of Israel is inherently anti-Semitic.
Section 5. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.