Palestinians in Wayne 'outraged' over council's support of Israel in ongoing war

WAYNE — Local Palestinians are demanding that the Township Council call for a cease-fire in Gaza and request humanitarian aid for the long-disputed land where their families and friends are being brutally killed.

Their pleas come less than a month after the council acted at the behest of local Jews to support a resolution backing Israel in its war against Hamas.

In an hourlong parade at the microphone Wednesday night, the Palestinian residents urged the council to stand in their corner.

Amanny Khattab, a school principal, said she wakes up each day not knowing if her loved ones survived the night. She said her family sends text messages on WhatsApp to stay in touch.

“Each morning, we ask, ‘Are you alive?’” she told the council.

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Nearly six dozen of her relatives have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the war broke out, Khattab said. “We’re not going to be blind to what you guys just did,” she said. “Palestinians are dying.”

The latest news reports say more than 24,600 people, including 10,000 children, have died in Gaza. The death toll reported in Israel from the attack by Hamas is 1,139.

At least three municipal governments in Passaic County — Haledon, Paterson and Prospect Park — have called for a cease-fire.

Maimoon Mustafa, an attorney and the first speaker at the meeting this week, said he was “embarrassed” and “outraged” when he heard that the council passed the resolution to support Israel. “Wayne does not share the same values,” he said. It is an “absolute travesty,” he said, to compare the township to an “apartheid state.”

The resolution approved by the council on Dec. 20 was modeled after one passed by both houses of Congress in October. It challenged Hamas to stop violence and to release all hostages.

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The symbolic measure, applauded by a handful of Jewish residents, including a rabbi, also denounced antisemitism.

A much larger group of residents attended the meeting this week, and officials reassured them that no harm was intended when the resolution was passed.

“I don’t know if there’s anything that we’ll do in this municipal chamber to bring peace to the world,” said Mayor Christopher Vergano, “but we need to try.”

Councilman Michael Fattal, who is part Syrian, said he empathized with the crowd. He said he felt goosebumps when he answered the concerns that were raised. “It really does mean a lot to me to see everyone come out,” he said. “Wayne is a better place to live when we all have positive attitudes.”

The meeting began against a backdrop of optimism.

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Council President Jason DeStefano read a proclamation to designate January as Muslim Heritage Month, and he handed a framed copy of the document to the resident who had suggested that such an action be taken.

Wearing a black niqāb, Jessica Berrocal thanked the governing body and dedicated the proclamation to “my brothers and sisters” in Palestine.

“This is to recognize that we, as Muslims, here and everywhere — we stick together,” she said.

DeStefano told the Palestinian residents that he and the council are preparing a resolution, which they plan to vote on at a meeting on Feb. 21.

He said Thursday morning that it was too early to tell whether it would specifically call for a cease-fire, but he added: “We heard the residents loud and clear.”

Philip DeVencentis is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: devencentis@northjersey.com

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Palestinians in Wayne NJ 'outraged' over council support of Israel