CLEVELAND — Pro-Palestinian demonstrators returned to Cuyahoga County Council with calls for divestment from Israel on Tuesday night.

A county spokesperson confirmed Cuyahoga County holds $16 million in Israel bonds. 

Several public commenters, including Rob Loftus, urged council members to direct that funding locally rather than globally. 

“I got a nice little flyer here with details about the county investment in Israel, $16 million in Israel Bonds,” Loftus said. “We don’t have to do that. Sure, these bonds bring in investment money. They bring in interest, but if money circulates in our community, if it goes from person to person, it enriches the whole community.”

This was the demonstrators’ third time attending a county council meeting, and this week, they sent members a list of demands. 

Those demands include the adoption of an ordinance that would prohibit any future investment of county funds into Israel Bonds, an evaluation of the due diligence process that went into investing in Israel Bonds in the first place, and implementing a community investment review board to assess the ethical impact of current and future county investments. 

Activists said these demands will help ensure the county’s investments are in line with the values and interests of residents. 

“Despite the push on to invade Rafah from Israel despite public pressure not to, we have no choice but to go on for them,” said Noelle Naser, a Palestinian activist. “And, I cannot believe we’re here seven months later pushing for the basics, even a ceasefire, but I think the student movement has re-energized us.”

Some commenters advocated for the student protesters who participated in the encampment at Case Western Reserve University.

They are now being disciplined by university leadership for their participation in the protest. Some are being barred from campus and commencement ceremonies and face the threat of not receiving their degrees.

The university’s commencement events start Wednesday, and run through May 19th.