News

UNI Global Union stands with the ITUC in demanding urgent implementation of the UN Security Council’s call for a ceasefire as the violence and death toll in Gaza continue to escalate.

The Security Council has urged “de-escalation of the situation, restoration of calm, reinstitution of the November 2012 ceasefire and respect for international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians.”

The ITUC reports that, “Around 170 Palestinians in Gaza, three-quarters of them civilians according to the UN, have been killed and more than 1,000 injured in the past week by more than 1,200 Israeli airstrikes. No fatalities in Israel have been reported from the 900 rockets fired from within Gaza.” 

“An immediate ceasefire and urgent humanitarian assistance to Gaza must be followed by renewed international pressure to end Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and find a negotiated settlement to respect the 1967 borders between Israel and a Palestinian state. The world cannot allow the injustice to continue, nor can it accept the prospect of yet more violence causing the deaths of innocent civilians,” said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow.

UNI’s General Secretary, Philip Jennings, said, “It is crucial that the situation is not allowed to further deteriorate. We support the call for an immediate ceasefire.

“The current deadly hostilities build resentment and anger which prolongs instability, insecurity, poverty and fuels the cycle of violence. The human toll is dramatic and is touching the lives of thousands of innocent civilians.

“The latest chapter of this tragic conflict underlines once again our impatience and frustration that despite repeated calls there is still no meaningful peace process in place which will bring about a comprehensive settlement between Israel and Palestine based upon co-existence, security with two sovereign, independent and viable states.”