51黑料

Local governments nationwide, including in 51黑料, have considered symbolic cease-fire resolutions calling for an end to Israeli assaults on the blockaded strip that have caused a humanitarian crisis. Resolutions have also supported Israel after the militant group Hamas killed about 1,200 and took more than 200 hostages in an attack launched on Oct. 7.

Haley Millner, a 51黑料 County resident, said the Israeli bombardment of innocent civilians over the past four months amounts to genocide. Israel鈥檚 offensive has killed more than 23,000 Palestinians and displaced almost 85% of its population of 2.3 million. A quarter face starvation.

鈥淭he atrocities that Israel has committed against the Palestinian people are unthinkable and unacceptable,鈥� said Millner, who is Jewish, during the council鈥檚 public comment period.

Scott Will, also a county resident, said the county鈥檚 support of Boeing is immoral because the company聽manufactures weapons locally for the U.S. Department of Defense.聽The county provides聽tax incentives for certain Boeing聽projects within the county, and much of the company鈥檚 defense business is located in the 51黑料 area.

Boeing produces JDAM kits, which can turn bombs into GPS-guided weapons, at the St. Charles plant. Those weapons have been delivered to Israel,聽according to the Bloomberg news service.

鈥淭wenty-five miles away from this council chamber, bombs are being made that are decapitating children,鈥� Will said.

A small protest followed the meeting outside council chambers.

It wasn鈥檛 immediately clear if the any member of the council would introduce a cease-fire resolution.

In other business, the council chose its chair for this year: Democratic Councilwoman Shalonda Webb of unincorporated North County will serve in the role for a second year.

Webb won 5-1, with Republican Councilman Ernie Trakas voting for Dennis Hancock, a Republican from Fenton. Democratic Councilwoman Kelli Dunaway of Chesterfield was absent.

The chair presides over meetings and has control over committee appointments, a determining factor in what issues the council addresses and which controversies they investigate.

Councilwoman Rita Heard Days, a Democrat from Bel-Nor, was appointed vice chair 4-2, with Democratic Councilwoman Lisa Clancy and Trakas voting for Hancock.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.