OKC Council dodges vote on Israel-Hamas cease-fire resolution, postpones indefinitely

A resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza was presented to the Oklahoma City Council on Tuesday, but there wasn't enough support on the council to even call a vote.

Shortly after Councilmembers JoBeth Hamon and Nikki Nice introduced the resolution, Ward 8 Councilor Mark Stonecipher asked for its vote to be postponed. The council ultimately voted 6-3 to postpone consideration of the resolution, with James Cooper joining Hamon and Nice against Stonecipher's motion.

A vote on the resolution is now postponed indefinitely, although it can be brought back up at a later time. With six members willing to shelve it, however, that scenario is unlikely to happen anytime soon.

Resolution called for a cease-fire

The resolution cites estimates that claim between 37,000 and 186,000 Palestinians have died since Israel began its military operation to eliminate Hamas and rescue hostages that were taken during the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack in Israel.

It specifically condemns "antisemitic, anti-Palestinian, Islamophobic, xenophobic rhetoric and attacks across the nation and here at home." It also called for "an immediate, durable and sustained ceasefire in Gaza," allowing for "humanitarian aid and the unhindered provision of goods to civilians throughout the Gaza Strip which are indispensable to their survival as required by international humanitarian law."

Nice, the councilwoman in Ward 7, quoted heavily from recent comments made by Vice President Kamala Harris after meeting with Israel's prime minister . Harris, and by extension Nice, called for a cease-fire and expressed concern about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

"Let's bring the hostages home and let's provide much needed relief to the Palestinian people. Let us condemn terrorism and violence. Let us do what we can to prevent the suffering of innocent civilians and let us condemn antisemitism, Islamophobia and hate of any kind," Nice quoted Harris as saying.

The resolution, however, does not mention any of the preceding events that led to Israel's invasion of Gaza , including the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israeli civilians that was launched from Gaza, nor does it call for the return of the estimated 115 hostages that still remain in captivity by Hamas, the ruling militant power within the Gaza Strip.

Ward 1 Councilor Bradley Carter said this is why he voted to postpone the resolution.

"I listened to everyone get up here and speak about the atrocities against Palestine, but not one person said a word about the attack on Oct. 7 that began this. Not one person recognized the fact that there was already a cease-fire in place that got violated at that point in time. Not one person rejected the brutal rule that Hamas has inside of Gaza," Carter said. "So it concerns me that the title of this resolution is set in such a way that it appears that we actually care about all that are involved. But as you read through it, it becomes very clear that we don't."

More: Iran is targeting Americans amid Gaza war protests, US intelligence chief warns

In all, 18 residents showed up to speak in support of the resolution, with several describing in horrific detail the images and video they've seen on social media of dead and dismembered bodies.

No members of the public spoke against the resolution.

In an email to The Oklahoman, Stonecipher cited three reasons for wanting the council to avoid taking a position: The OKC city charter is silent on global issues; council resolutions typically recognize individual accomplishments, corporate/nonprofit acts and important events; and Stonecipher's own belief that the council should focus on city business.

"It is my job to make this city a better place to live, including adequately funding our police and fire, adequately providing good clean drinking water, and providing safer and better streets and parks," Stonecipher wrote. "I believe we should stay focused on our city and let our federal elected officials address the global issues of the day."

Councilmember Todd Stone, of Ward 4, said during the meeting that while he appreciated so many OKC residents speaking out in favor of the resolution, he would support postponing the vote because he's focused on city business.

"Whether that's potholes, whether it's trying to fix issues for homelessness, whether it's trying to fix other issues for our residents, that's where I try to maintain my focus," said Stone. "Whether you're for or against the resolution, it doesn't matter. For me, we're talking about an international issue."

Pressure grew for council to take a stand on Gaza conflict

It is not the first time concerns about the conflict in the Middle East have been discussed openly at City Hall. Within three weeks of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, Rabbi Vered Harris and Imam Imad Enchassi, leaders of Oklahoma City's Jewish and Muslim communities, respectively, spoke in front of city councilmembers to denounce xenophobia.

For several months since, residents have been appearing before the council during bi-weekly meetings, urging councilmembers say something about the war.

More: Jewish, Muslim faith leaders denounce xenophobia during OKC council meeting

Tuesday's proposed resolution noted as much, recognizing "our many Jewish and Palestinian residents who have asked City leadership to call for the protection of human life." The resolution was meant to "encourage our federal government to pursue a response rooted in diplomacy and de-escalation."

As the Gaza conflict wore on in March, a Pennsylvania-based right-leaning think tank demanded OKC Mayor David Holt distance himself from the local chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations , which had invited Holt to attend a Ramadan fast-breaking meal, or iftar.

In response to the letter, Holt told the think tank staff "don't bother sending me such nonsense again." He later told The Oklahoman he interpreted the letter as a "pathetic" threat and that it offended him.

More: A right-leaning think tank is pressuring elected leaders to withdraw from a CAIR-OK event

"I think anyone who tries to threaten public officials should be met swiftly with rebuke," Holt said at the time. "And in this case, I strongly support our city's Jewish community and our city's Muslim community. I have attended Hanukkah lightings and I have attended iftars , and I will continue to do both."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Council dodges vote on Israel-Hamas cease-fire resolution, postpones indefinitely