In a marathon meeting that stretched into the early hours of Wednesday morning, the Richmond City Council in San Francisco passed a resolution affirming support for Gaza and Palestine. The council meeting, which lasted over seven hours, included a highly charged public comment session lasting nearly five hours.

Richmond Vice Mayor Gayle McLaughlin commended the council's resolution, stating that Richmond may be the first city in the nation to pass such a measure, but it will not be the last. The resolution aimed to show solidarity with the people of Gaza and Palestine.

The debate surrounding the resolution was intense, with emotions running high. The council went into a closed session before the public debate, making several amendments to the resolution. The amended version included a vow to combat anti-Semitism and ethno-nationalism.

During the public discussion, Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez began with a moment of silence to honor the victims of the Israel-Gaza conflict. However, tensions quickly escalated when Martinez referred to Israel as an "apartheid state." The statement drew a mixture of boos and cheers from the audience, with some even hurling accusations of "Nazi!!" at the mayor.

Amid the chaos, Mayor Martinez called for a recess, and the meeting later reconvened. Martinez defended his remarks, emphasizing the need to speak out against war crimes and oppression. However, the use of the term "apartheid" continued to elicit audible boos from some attendees, particularly from Jewish residents who deemed the resolution to be inflammatory and anti-Semitic.

Nevertheless, the majority of comments expressed support for the resolution, highlighting alleged inhumane treatment of Palestinians by Israel. One commenter shared personal tragedy, stating that their own family had suffered losses in Gaza.

Ultimately, the resolution passed by a 5-1 vote, with Councilmember Cesar Zepeda as the sole dissenting voice. Zepeda expressed support for a free Palestine but voted against the resolution at this time.

While the resolution is largely symbolic, it signifies Richmond's official stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict and shown support for the people of Gaza and Palestine.