HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) --Hoffman Estates is among the latest communities asked to go on the record with a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Resident Fayez Khozindar asked the village board at its meeting on Monday night to issue the resolution saying his childhood home has been burned to rubble and 150 of his relatives have ben forced to move to Rafa after facing "bombardment and Hell for 150 days."
"It's ironic that the descendents of the victims of the Nazi Germany are committing another Holocaust in Gaza," he added.
Three other residents joined him in the request including Maryam Othman, who asked the board to issue a resolution calling for the end of what she says is the genocide of Palestinians.
The death toll in Gaza has surpassed 30,000, according to the territory's health ministry. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its figures, but says women and children make up around two-thirds of the total casualties and that over 72,000 people have been wounded.
"Look into your hearts. Think of that were your children, your babies, your grandchildren, your wives, your sisters," Othman said addressing the board members. "These are innocent civilians."
However, another resident, Robert Steinberg focused on the October 7 attacks in Israel that started the war.
Israel launched its offensive after Hamas-led militants stormed across the border that day, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250. Over 100 hostages were released in November in exchange for 240 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
Steinberg said the leaders of Hamas sit in luxury condos in Qatar. He also said he hopes Israel and Hamas can reach a ceasefire by the start of Ramadan on March 10, but expressed skepticism.
"Hamas didn't do it by themselves. They didn't build those tunnels by themselves and they didn't build those 10,000 rockets they sent to Israel," Steinberg said.
The United States, Qatar and Egypt have spent weeks trying to broker an agreement in which Hamas would release up to 40 hostages in return for a six-week cease-fire, the release of some Palestinian prisoners and more humanitarian aid to Gaza. However, the talks have so far failed to achieve a breakthrough.
Hoffman Estates Mayor Bill McLeod told WBBM the resolution will not be on the agenda for the next meeting on March 18 , but anyone can come forward and make a statement during public comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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