In a divided decision, San Francisco Mayor London Breed has declined to veto a non-binding resolution from the San Francisco supervisors calling for an extended cease-fire in Gaza. The resolution, which also condemned Hamas as well as the Israeli government and urged the Biden administration to press for the release of all hostages and delivery of humanitarian aid, has no legal weight but reflects pressure on local governments to speak up on the Israel-Hamas war.
Despite criticism of the board’s decision, Breed made an exception and posted her decision online, faulting the board for veering into foreign policy in which its members have no legal authority or expertise. She stated that the debate over the resolution left the city “angrier, more divided, and less safe.” The decision comes amid Breed’s tough reelection fight as she is telling voters of her progress in issues such as homelessness, public drug use, and property crime.
Breed lamented the suffering in Gaza and the loss of life on both sides but chastised activists who jeered when a man spoke of family members killed in the Hamas attack. She also expressed concern about the rise of antisemitism in the city and fears from Jewish residents about growing acts of vandalism and intimidation.
The resolution is now final, despite the mayor’s concerns, and has drawn strong reactions from both sides. Supervisor Dean Preston, who introduced the cease-fire resolution, expressed satisfaction that the mayor did not veto it. However, Lara Kiswani, executive director of the Arab Resource and Organizing Center, criticized the mayor’s statement, calling it “dangerous, racist, well-worn anti-Arab tropes.” The ongoing Israeli military action in Gaza continues to shake the campaigns from the White House to City Halls, with public opinion divided on the issue.
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