MIAMI — After passing a statement calling for peace in the Middle East, Doral political leaders scrambled to douse the firestorm the purely symbolic resolution sparked in their own backyard.

In a contentious Tuesday meeting called solely to deal with the resulting controversy, the city council unanimously rescinded a resolution passed less than two weeks ago that advocated a permanent end to “hostilities” between Israel and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Some council members had initially described the measure, a first from a South Florida city, as a call for a ceasefire. It quickly drew backlash from many Jewish groups and politicians outside the city.

Mayor Christi Fraga — who had originally introduced the peace resolution crafted after meeting with a Doral resident and lawyer who advocates for a free Palestine — led the way in walking back what she said had been intended to bring the community together. After hearing from critics, she described the resolution she had championed as “flawed” by “many issues.”

“It did not condemn the horrific acts of Hamas. It did not condemn the acts that we have seen on innocent lives. And that was something that needed to be said again,” Fraga said during a brief discussion after rescinding the resolution.

She said that the only way to find peace and a “cease to all hostilities” was for the militant group Hamas to first return all hostages and surrender.

“I’ve been very clear on my stance of pro-Israel. It’s all over my social media,” Fraga said. “It’s the most important ally we have.”

In its stead, Fraga introduced a new resolution, one crafted with leaders from the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, that focused on defeating Hamas and commending Israel for “the extraordinary measures Israel has taken to minimize casualties among innocent civilians.”

The new proposal largely doubled down on a resolution Doral had passed in the immediate aftermath of an October attack where Hamas raiders killed some 1,200 people and took another 250 civilians hostage. Its language was in stark contrast to the peace measure, supporting “Israel’s right to act decisively and unilaterally in self-defense” and removing much of the wording that recognized suffering in Gaza, where an estimated 35,000-plus Palestinians have been killed during Israel’s retaliatory strikes.

The council, after hearing from a string of speakers on both sides, eventually rejected that, leaving in place only the original November measure that supported Israel and condemned the attack.

Councilwoman Digna Cabral was the only commissioner of three no votes to explain why she was hesitant to support any new resolution. She said she wanted more time to review and work on a proposal and “for the residents to be able to sit down and have a conversation with us.”

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