Hoffman Estates latest suburb asked to adopt Gaza cease-fire resolution

Hoffman Estates on Monday night became the latest suburb asked to adopt a resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza.

Three Hoffman Estates residents requested that the village board approve such a resolution at its next meeting.

“You have to be on the side of humanity,” urged Fayez Khozindar, executive director of the United Taxidrivers Community Council.

A fourth resident, Robert Steinberg, also expressed hope for a cease-fire without specifically requesting the village to weigh in. While other speakers focused on the ongoing Palestinian suffering in Gaza, he emphasized the harm to Israeli civilians on Oct. 7.

Advocates have said they’re encouraging cease-fire resolutions from municipal leaders in hopes they will inspire higher-level government officials to take a stance.

Schaumburg village board members heard from nine people last week asking they pass a cease-fire resolution, but ultimately chose not to act on a request, saying it was not relevant to the operations of the town. The decision led some advocates to verbally assail board members, leading them to a recess their meeting.

Naperville City Council members on Feb. 20 heard two hours of public comment asking that a cease-fire resolution be put on the agenda of their meeting tonight. The latest agenda, however, makes no mention of the proposal.

The city of Chicago passed a Gaza cease-fire resolution in January, while the village of Bolingbrook last month passed a resolution expressing “deep concern” over violence against civilians not only in Gaza, but also Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Ukraine.

Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois called for a cease-fire in Gaza over the weekend, while also condemning Hamas’ Oct. 7 raid on Israel.