Richmond City Council in California Condemns Israel, Accuses of 'Ethnic Cleansing' in Gaza

First U.S. city to officially support Palestine, Richmond's resolution sparks widespread backlash and claims of bias during a heated council meeting.

The city of Richmond, California passed a resolution condemning Israel and accusing it of ethnic cleansing in Gaza, becoming the first U.S. city to officially support Palestine.
The resolution accused Israel of “war crimes”, claiming that Gazans are suffering collective punishment from Israel in response to Hamas attacks.
The controversial resolution passed with a 5-1 vote, causing a heated council meeting with participants accusing the council of bias and spreading false narratives.
The city council defended the resolution, with Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez asserting that it was not anti-semitic and simply voiced a narrative that has been ignored.
The passage of the resolution has resulted in backlash, with groups like the Jewish Community Relations Council in San Francisco condemning it as inflammatory and biased.