The ITUC has condemned the killing of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and the wounding of producer Ali
al-Samudi in Jenin, occupied Palestine, on 11 May.
Ali Al-Samudi and a number of witnesses have blamed Israeli security forces for the shootings.
The International Federation of Journalists has added the killing to the case it has before the International Criminal Court that details the targeting of Palestinian journalists.
The UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine, Francesca Albanese, has described the killing as a potential war crime and added
to the demand for the international accountability of Israel.
The shootings took place against the backdrop of an upsurge in violence in recent weeks, with dozens of Palestinians,
including eight children, and 18 Israelis killed since 22 March.
“The killing of Shireen Abu Akleh and the wounding of Ali al-Samudi are criminal acts, and we call for an urgent and
thorough independent investigation to ensure accountability and that those responsible are brought to justice.
“Israel’s continuing and illegal occupation and the treatment of Palestinians, including those seeking work inside
Israel, are the root causes of anger and resentment.
“It is only by ending the occupation and negotiating a two-state solution in line with the relevant UN Security Council
Resolutions that peace can prevail and the injustices be brought to an end,” said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow.
Since the beginning of this year 2,140 Palestinians, mainly from occupied Jerusalem and Jenin, have been detained by
Israeli security forces, including 815 Palestinian workers of which 91 are accused of employing and transporting workers
without special permits.
This week, 27 year-old Palestinian worker Mahmoud Sami Khalil Aram was killed as he passed through an opening in the
wall erected by Israel. Like many Palestinians, he had tried to enter Israel without a permit to seek work as an
undocumented worker.
The ITUC’s Palestine affiliate, the PGFTU, has highlighted the plight of many Palestinians who have to work in Israel
due to high unemployment in Gaza and the West Bank. Low wages and poor working conditions are common and the PGFTU
states that 67 Palestinian workers in Israel have died due to poor occupational health and safety in the past year.