RAMALLAH, Wednesday, May 29, 2024 (WAFA) – President Abbas Wednesday evening stated that the world stands united in supporting the realization of peace and respecting international law.
Speaking during a meeting with a visiting delegation from the secretary-generals of Global Union Federations (GUFs), headed by the President of the and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah, said that the world stands united in supporting peace and stability as well as respect of international law as he called for an immediate halt to the ongoing Israeli genocidal aggression on the Gaza Strip.
He also called for the need to oblige Israel to comply with international courts’ rulings, notably the ICJ ruling that ordered Israel to immediately halt its offensive on Rafah, while stressing the need to expedite the entry of humanitarian aid necessary to prevent famine in the Strip and ensure full Israeli withdrawal from the Strip as well as a halt of army and colonist assaults in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
He reaffirmed the importance of the expanding wave of recognition by European states of Palestine's statehood and supporting Palestine’s bid for full UN membership as a means to keep alive the hope and prospect for peace and stability in the region.
He commended the ITUC for its decisions that affirmed the Palestinian people’s right to establish an independent State with Jerusalem as its capital, the need to dismantle colonies, the call for an immediate and durable ceasefire in the Palestinian territories, support Palestinian workers’ rights, establishing a fund to provide urgent support to Palestinians, the call for governments to reinstate funding to UNRWA and for the UN to recognize the Palestinian state based on the two-state solution, in addition to the call for the ILO to grant Palestine a full-member status.
The ITUC expressed in a press statement their “solidarity with Palestinian trade unions and workers in these difficult times” as well as their deep concerns “by the grave humanitarian crisis faced by the people of Gaza”.
They stressed the need for “an immediate and permanent ceasefire with full respect for international humanitarian law, immediate access to humanitarian assistance,” in addition to “enabling the safe return of all workers trapped by the conflict”.
The delegation also recalled the ITUC and other global unions’ long-standing policy for a two-state solution, and the call for a just and durable peace through the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 to facilitate a real economic future for an independent Palestine. This involves ending the occupation of the West Bank, dismantling all illegal settlements, and recognising the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state, the statement read.
The delegation urged governments to resume and increase funding to UNRWA. “UNRWA’s role is vital in providing essential services and supporting Palestinians at a time when they are most in need.”
“We came here to reinforce the depth of our commitment to Palestinian workers and their unions - we are all part of the same family. Our goal is a democratic and sovereign Palestine, living in a just and lasting peace and security alongside Israel. We know that trade unions are an essential element of any democracy, and that strong and democratic independent unions will be a key building block towards that end in Palestine.”
The delegation reported hearing moving testimony from Palestinians who have paid a terrible price during the current war. On top of the distressing reality of destruction and loss of life in Gaza, we have heard about settler violence, restrictions on human rights such as freedom of movement and economic hardship in the West Bank, the statement added.
The delegation concluded: ‘Trade unions are part of the global peace movement. We stand for peace alongside such important values as democracy and humanity. That’s why we are here.”
K.F.
