Chicago last week became the largest American city to adopt a resolution calling for both a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas.

Calls to end the conflict stem from the high casualty rate, with about 1,200 Israelis killed on Oct. 7 and more than 27,000 Palestinians killed in the four months since. Most of the victims have been civilians, with 40 percent being children.

Despite being balanced, the Chicago ceasefire resolution has become the foundation for a growing campaign of anti-Arab hate. This comes not only from American politicians from across the spectrum and pro-Israel activists, but also the country’s mainstream news media. The message appears to be simple: Killing Israelis is reprehensible but killing Palestinians is not.

Supporters of the Chicago resolution — which is not a law and has no legal authority — fought to get it approved after many delays.

Pro-Israel activists pushed through a first resolution on Gaza on Oct. 13, with unanimous approval of a resolution that denounced Hamas terrorism. It was introduced by Alderperson Debra Silverstein, Chicago City Council’s only Jewish member.

Two months later, as Israel’s violent campaign of revenge against Palestinians in Gaza accelerated, with thousands killed and buildings such as homes, mosques, hospitals and schools destroyed, two Hispanic alderpersons, Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez and Daniel LaSpata, introduced a resolution proposing a balanced call to........

© Eurasia Review