US city passes boycott resolution in support of Palestinian rights

A US city on the outskirts of Detroit, Michigan, passed a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) resolution on Tuesday, supporting Palestinian rights amidst Israel's ongoing war on Gaza.

The city of Hamtramck passed the resolution, which states it will make "all best efforts to refrain from purchasing goods and services from any vendor that is the target of a BDS campaign".

The resolution also adds they will avoid investments into the Israeli state as well as companies that "sustain Israeli apartheid".

The BDS refers to the international movement that supports Palestinian rights and challenge's Israeli occupation through economic, cultural and academic boycotts.

City council members in Hamtramck said the move was done in an effort to send a "message of support" to Palestinians and further support "their efforts to end the Israeli occupation of their indigenous lands".

"We need every angle we can take to help the Palestinians out," a member was heard saying during a recorded meeting from Tuesday.

Hamtramck is a Muslim-majority city, where residents have also been calling for a Gaza ceasefire.

In October, the city council demanded a ceasefire, and renamed one of its streets "Palestine Avenue", demanding an end to Israel's hostilities in Gaza.

Amer Ghali, the city's mayor expressed support for Palestinians and demanded an end to the war.

"Apparently, most of the American people are against the war but our government of course does not listen to the concern of the people," he said.

Two cities in California, Hayward and Richmond, have also voted to divest from companies doing business with Israel.

The resolutions passed in January and May focus on specific companies, rather than supporting the entire BDS movement.

A poll from earlier this month showed that a  majority of US likely voters support a ceasefire and humanitarian aid in Gaza, while a majority of Democrats say they believe Israel is committing genocide in the besieged enclave.

According to the poll carried out by Data for Progress, a think tank and advocacy group, 56 percent of Democrats say they believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

The poll was carried out between 26 and 29 April and shows the majority of all voters want a de-escalation of violence in Gaza.

Israel's war on Gaza has killed at least 36,000 Palestinians and wounded 81,000 others. The bombardment has levelled entire neighbourhoods and wreaked havoc on the Strip's infrastructure.