Ramallah- Shaher Saad, Secretary-General of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions, welcomed a joint statement issued by over 52 international and Arab trade union centers, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the lifting of the blockade, and urgent support for Palestinian workers’ rights.
Saad described the statement as “a rare document of solidarity that reflects the living conscience of the global labor movement,” noting that over 507,000 Palestinian workers have lost their jobs due to the ongoing aggression, leading to one of the worst humanitarian and economic disasters in decades.
The statement declared that “the scale of destruction and suffering in Gaza is beyond imagination. Entire homes, neighborhoods, schools, and hospitals have been wiped out, and workers are being killed simply for trying to survive. This is not just war — it is a continuing genocide targeting the very existence of a people.”
The unions held the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the crimes committed against civilians, demanding a comprehensive and immediate ceasefire, the permanent opening of border crossings, and unrestricted access for humanitarian, medical, and relief aid.
The statement also urged governments and arms manufacturers around the world to halt all weapons exports to Israel, which are being used to kill civilians and destroy Gaza’s infrastructure. It condemned the use of starvation and siege as weapons of war and called for the removal of all restrictions on essential goods, medical supplies, and fuel.
Additionally, the unions called for real international engagement in Gaza’s reconstruction, including compensation for displaced citizens and workers who lost their homes and livelihoods. They demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and detainees in accordance with international humanitarian law.
The statement reaffirmed the need to adhere to international law and
