Good morning, Chicago.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker criticized a Gaza cease-fire resolution passed this week by Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago aldermen for failing to hold Hamas responsible for violence it has committed.
Talking to reporters after an event at the South Shore Cultural Center to announce collaboration on anti-violence initiatives, Pritzker said the resolution — which passed the council 24-23 Wednesday with Johnson casting the tiebreaking vote — should have taken into account atrocities committed by Hamas fighters who killed about 1,200 Israelis and took around 240 hostages during an Oct. 7 attack.
“I was disappointed that no consideration was given to the women who were raped by Hamas fighters who crossed over into Israel, kidnapped people, that the deaths that were caused by those terrorists were not acknowledged,” Pritzker said.
Hamas has denied committing sexual violence during the attack, and the United Nations is investigating the allegations.
“And honestly, I don’t think the City Council — if they’re going to talk about the challenge of war in the Middle East, you’ve got to make sure you include all of the perspectives. They did not do that,” said Pritzker, who is Jewish.
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