Burr Ridge Backs Gaza Ceasefire, Return Of Hostages

BURR RIDGE, IL – The Burr Ridge Village Board voted for a resolution Monday calling for an "immediate and sustained" ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Mayor Gary Grasso said he drafted the resolution with input from members of the local religious community.

"Some people may question whether this resolution is village business. Some people may question whether it matters," the mayor said. "It is my opinion as the mayor of this village that this is village business. It concerns the safety and well-being of innocent lives. It matters because humanitarian causes matter."

Trustees Tony Schiappa and Anita Mital thanked the mayor for drafting the resolution, which also pushes for the quick delivery of humanitarian aid to displaced Palestinians and the immediate release of all Israeli and U.S. hostages held by Hamas.

"We work for the people, so when they come to us for help, it's something we have to take seriously into consideration," Schiappa said. "What this resolution does is help us communicate that we stand united for humanitarian issues and aid and that we want peace in the Middle East."

The original version of the resolution stated the village stands against all forms of terrorism, racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, ethnic cleansing, genocide, the massacre of innocent people and hatred among humanity.

Grasso asked that the words "ethnic cleansing" and "genocide" be removed from the resolution.

"Those words have meaning," he said. "I don't want them used in this resolution to detract from what we hope this to be, which is a call for humanitarian aid and the release of hostages and those unjustly held."

Residents spoke during the meeting in support of the resolution. Among them was Nizam Khatib.

"It is strong and really appreciated," Khatib said. "I'm not sure why you shied away from the word 'genocide' considering that genocide has been actually mentioned by the World Court."

At two recent meetings, residents called for a local ceasefire resolution.

The Village Board voted unanimously to adopt the resolution. Trustee Joe Snyder was connected by phone, with the mayor saying Snyder was still in Florida on "further business."

Trustee Al Paveza was absent, but Grasso said the trustee supported the resolution.

The audience applauded the board's decision.

Afterward, the village took the rare step of issuing a news release about the resolution.