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The ITUC and the ETUC have called for an immediate cession of violent actions by Israel and Hamas and for a return of Israeli and the Palestinian authorities to the negotiating table.



The ITUC and ETUC have condemned the disproportionate use of force by the Israeli military in Gaza in recent days that has caused the deaths of over one hundred Palestinians – many of them civilians, women and children among them. The PGFTU folk house was among the buildings destroyed. It is a collective punishment of the population of Gaza, which violates international law.



The two Internationals have urged Israel to refrain from all activities that endanger civilians and to respect their obligations under international law and the Fourth Geneva Convention. At the same time, they condemned Hamas violations of international law by firing rockets into Israel, causing civilian casualties, and called for an immediate end to this, so that negotiations can resume.



They expressed their continuing concern at the blockade of Gaza that has contributed to escalating unemployment and poverty in the territory. The unemployment rate in Gaza is now 80%, with poverty on the increase.



UNI Global Union has stated that negotiations are the only way to reach a lasting peace agreement based on international law and relevant UN resolutions. It supports the ITUC call for the international community to do all in its power to help bring about the conditions for such negotiations.