International Trade Union Confederation
Israel, Hamas Must Heed UN Truce Call
Brussels, 19 November 2012 (ITUC OnLine): Israel and Hamas must immediately heed the call of UN Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon for a truce, and the international community must step up pressure to stop the carnage. Israel’s air and sea
bombardment of over 1,300 sites in Gaza has so far left 87 dead and over 700 wounded. The Israeli government has
threatened to invade Gaza unless Hamas stops the firing of rockets into Israel, where more than 800 rocket attacks have
so far killed three and wounded some 50 people.
“The world has been shocked by the attacks on Gaza. The UN and the governments with real influence in the region must
put the maximum possible pressure for an immediate end to the killing of innocent civilians. For too long, major powers
have sat by and tolerated the Israeli government’s policy of refusing to negotiate a just and lasting two-state
settlement and the Hamas refusal to even recognise Israel’s right to exist. The status quo of political paralysis,
continuing denial of fundamental justice to Palestinians, armed provocation and reaction, and the constant threat to
peace for all people in the region will only be transformed if the international community is prepared to act decisively
in the interests of peace and justice,” said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow.
The ITUC represents 175 million workers in 308 affiliated national organisations from 153 countries and territories.
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