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Multiple speakers urge council to condemn violence in Gaza and probe local ties to defense contractor Elbit
Summary
Several residents called on the council to take a stand on the Israel‑Gaza conflict, including demands for a local resolution calling for an arms embargo and scrutiny of Elbit Systems' offices in the area.
Multiple residents used the public‑comment period to press the Raleigh City Council to take action related to the Israel‑Gaza conflict and to examine local ties to defense contractors.
“Trump plan to take over Gaza and forcibly remove Palestinians is called ethnic cleansing,” one speaker said, calling for international accountability. Several speakers asked the council to pass a resolution calling for an arms embargo and to stop local public‑sector relationships with firms that supply military equipment used in the conflict.
One speaker pointed to the presence of Elbit Systems offices and urged the council to review whether the city has any relationships or procurement ties to the company, noting that activists in other countries have protested Elbit's operations.
Kelly Halseppel said the council’s inaction in the face of large‑scale civilian casualties is morally troubling and demanded the council pass a resolution calling for an arms embargo: “I am demanding pass a resolution calling for an arms embargo, call for an end to the flow of American tax dollars into the hands of war criminals,” Halseppel said.
Council did not act during public comment. Several speakers explicitly framed their requests as moral and humanitarian appeals and said they would return to future meetings.
