The American city of Hamtramck passes a law on boycotting the Israeli occupation entity

Michigan, (ST) – In a historic step, the city of Hamtramck, located on the outskirts of Detroit in the US state of Michigan, announced its full support for the boycott campaign against the Israeli occupation entity. It announced withdrawing investments and imposing sanctions on “Israel”, thus becoming the first American city to take this position in support of Palestinian rights.

According to a report published by the Metro Times newspaper, Hamtramck became the first city whose local council announced a boycott and imposed sanctions on the Israeli entity. It decided to fully support the boycott movement and withdraw investments from companies that support the occupation due to its continuous brutal aggression against the Palestinians in Gaza Strip.

The City Council unanimously approved this resolution in a strong message of support for the Palestinians and for ending the genocide pursued by the Israeli occupation entity in Gaza, which reflects strong support for the Palestinian calls to boycott the occupation entity until it adheres to international law.

The cities of Hayward and Richmond in California issued similar resolutions last December and May, but those cities targeted specific companies for the boycott, while the city of Hamtramck’s decision supported the entire boycott movement.

The presidency of the municipal council in Hamtramck affirmed that most of the American people oppose the war, but our government, of course, does not listen to the people’s concerns, and it seems that we are ruled by a minority in this country, and the problem is that the voice of the people is not heard.

The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement for boycotting the occupying entity welcomed the new legislation and called on more American cities to adopt similar steps in order to avoid complicity in genocide with the occupying entity.

The BDS, which began in 2005, targeted companies and institutions accused of contributing to violations of Palestinian rights, in protest against Israeli practices in the Palestinian territories.

The British newspaper (Middle East Eye) also reported on the news about Hamtramck’s decision to fully support the boycott campaign against the Israeli occupation. It clarified that Hamtramck’s decision requires it to refrain from purchasing goods and services from any company targeted by the boycott campaign, in addition to refraining from investing in the occupied Palestinian territories and companies that support the Israeli apartheid regime.

The decision also encouraged residents to participate in the boycott campaign and support student activity at universities.

According to members of the municipal council, the decision was taken with the aim of sending a strong message in support of the Palestinian people and their efforts to end the Israeli occupation of their lands.

The mayor of Hamtramck told the local Free Press newspaper: The vote means that for the time being, the city will make every effort to refrain from purchasing, investing in, or contracting with companies that support the Israeli genocide.

It is noteworthy that the city of Hamtramck, which has the highest percentage of immigrants among Michigan cities, has a long record of human rights activism.

Last October, the city council called for a ceasefire and renamed one of the city’s main streets (Palestine Street) as part of symbolic solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza.

The American administration insists on supporting the Israeli occupation entity regardless of the high number of martyrs resulted from the aggression and the loud voices that have denounced the crimes of the occupation.

Raghda Sawas