Iowa City Council passes ‘Israel’ boycott bill over Gaza genocide

In a landmark decision, the Iowa City Council voted unanimously to pass a resolution that will boycott investments in bonds and companies complicit in ‘Israel’s’ actions in Gaza.

This makes Iowa City the first municipality in a state with a GOP-majority government to take such an action, marking a significant victory for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement in a conservative state .

The resolution, which passed with a seven-to-zero vote on August 5, is the result of a two-year campaign by local group Iowa City Action for Palestine (ICAP).

It builds on a previous ceasefire resolution from January 2024 and uses strong language, explicitly recognizing "the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the genocide of Palestinian people, ethnic cleansing by Israeli armed forces, and illegal occupation of Palestinian land".

The resolution directs the city to avoid future investments in companies identified by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC).

Companies on this list, which includes major corporations like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Caterpillar, are complicit by providing military equipment and other support to the ‘Israeli’ military .

The resolution’s passage places Iowa City in direct conflict with Iowa’s 2016 anti-BDS law, which prohibits state entities from contracting with or investing in companies that boycott ‘Israel’.

This has led to concerns from some council members about the potential for state and federal funds to be withheld.

Given the history of Governor Kim Reynolds and Attorney General Brenna Bird using their offices to combat progressive local policies, a legal challenge from the state is considered highly likely . This brewing conflict is set to be a key test case for anti-BDS laws nationwide.