During the Jan. 23 Coppell City Council meeting, community members came forward to advocate for the council to make a proclamation in favor of the cease-fire resolution in Gaza. 

Last month, the United States vetoed the United Nation’s call for a cease-fire of the violent conflict in Gaza, a Palestinian city at the forefront of the Israel-Hamas war. Furthermore, the U.S. has continued to provide military support to Israel. These decisions have received criticism from the Islamic community in Coppell.

“The request for a cease-fire is ultimately for the preservation of life,” Minister Abdullah Obduro said. “There’s nothing like hearing or seeing a family member pass away.” 

The U.N. proposed the cease-fire resolution in fear of a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The resolution mandates that both Israel and Palestine stop all violent action and release all hostages. 

“By endorsing the cease-fire resolution, we send a powerful message that echoes the values instilled in Coppell educational institutions,” Coppell High School 2019 alumna Saja Saleh said. “We declare our commitment to promoting peace and maintaining the highest standards of integrity within our local and global community.”

One community member had first-hand experience in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Hadil Shaat is a former resident of Gaza and worked at UNICEF for 14 years. 

“In the middle of 2014, around 8 p.m., I received a phone call asking us to evacuate,” Shaat said. “I held my few weeks old baby boy and my 3-year-old daughter, and I ran. Us people who were asked to displace had nowhere to go. No food, no water, no electricity, no safe place. I was lucky. I was displaced only once. My children and I survived, but there were 2,000 who didn’t.”

NPR reports that at least 25,000 civilians in Gaza have died since the beginning of the war. The city’s Islamic community members hope to promote non-violence by encouraging the city of Coppell to take a stand.

“Elementary and secondary schools have been bombed in Gaza,” Saleh said. “Coppell prides itself on a wonderfully diverse community and top education. I urge you to think about your child or grandchild’s classmates, the ones named Mohammed, Hasan and Meia. Are they not worthy of an education? Are they not worthy of life?”

Anum Hasan, a practicing physician assistant in Coppell, is in favor of the resolution due to her worries about the severe medical landscape for Gaza citizens as a result of warfare. 

“There’s a new medical acronym unique to Gaza, WCNSF: Wounded child, no surviving family,” said Hasan. “Children are dying from heart attacks due to constant fear of bombardment and lack of sleep. This has nothing to do with politics. This is about humanity. Please do not use my tax dollars to kill patients that could have been my own.”

The city council meeting concluded with the mayor addressing the statements made by the community members. 

“We need some time to process what we heard,” Mayor Wes Mays said. “The citizens were very, very passionate in their presentations. That was very impactful.”