The San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee (DCCC) delayed a controversial resolution about the Israel-Hamas conflict Wednesday evening during the party’s monthly meeting.
The resolution, penned by Gloria Berry, Peter Gallotta and John Avalos, was a last-minute addition to the meeting’s agenda and required a two-thirds vote to be added, according to Avalos.
“The San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee affirms: the internationally recognized rights of the Palestinian people to resist their military occupation and apartheid,” the resolution stated. “And that Jewish civilians and non-combatants have the right to live free from harm and condemns Hamas’ killing of noncombatants and civilians of all ages, the taking of hostages, and subjecting fellow Gazan residents to all but certain disproportionate retaliation from the State of Israel.”
Additionally, the resolution called for U.S. political leaders to call for an immediate ceasefire in the region and hostages to be released.
According to San Francisco Democratic Party Chair Honey Mahogany, the resolution will be referred to the Issues and Resolutions Committee.
Avalos apologized to members during Wednesday’s meeting for bringing an unready resolution, saying that he even considered resigning from the Democratic Party due to party leaders not questioning the role of the U.S. in the conflict.
“I take full responsibility for it coming forward to the 72-hour agenda calendar,” he said. “I thought I could be silent, and I didn’t feel that was appropriate. We represent a very diverse, multiethnic community with ties to every nation on the planet. It is inconceivable that we could see the world from only one point of view.”
Prior to the meeting, reactions to news from members of the Jewish community on the proposed resolution were critical of its introduction.
State Sen. Scott Wiener called the resolution “extreme,” saying it denied Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself.
“It downplays Hamas’s nightmarish anti-Jewish pogrom—the largest killing of Jews since the Holocaust—and blames Israelis for that pogrom,” Wiener said, adding he is also critical of Israel’s settlement policies and the invasion of Gaza. “But this resolution goes well beyond criticizing Israel and should be rejected.”
Additionally, a spokesperson for the Jewish Community Relations Council said the resolution “blames the victims for the Oct. 7 attack” by Hamas militants.
Current death tolls show that more than 1,400 people have been killed in Israel since Oct. 7 while at least 6,546 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip in the aftermath of the initial attacks, according to Al Jazeera.
Avalos pushed back on characterizations that he was in support of Hamas.
“I never expected to see so much horror and acceptance of horror from the general public in response to some of the emails we got,” he said. “I don’t support Hamas. I don’t support the slaughter of innocent children by Hamas. I don’t support terrorism. I support ways we can find to settle our disagreements so they don’t flare up again.”
Gallotta also spoke and apologized for the proposed resolution’s language, noting the community’s feedback will be taken into consideration in the revision.
“I just don’t think we can afford to be silent as a party,” Gallotta said, “as a local party during a time of such overwhelming violence and loss.”