UNISON condemns the latest bombardment and ground assault on Gaza by the Israeli military, which has ended the fragile ceasefire. We reiterate our demands for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, full access to humanitarian assistance, the safe release of hostages and end to the siege. Over 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 2023 and a further 113,000 injured.
We are deeply concerned by the blockade on essential humanitarian assistance into Gaza and imposition of active displacement orders and no-go areas on approximately two thirds of Gaza’s territory. Over 280,000 Palestinians have again been displaced from the remains of their homes and forced to seek refuge in appalling conditions in overcrowded camps.
We welcome the Public Services International “Not a target” campaign and demand that the Israeli government protect health workers, healthcare facilities and the sick and injured, in accordance with international humanitarian law.
There have been over 670 attacks on healthcare since October 2023 and over 1,000 of our fellow health workers have been killed and at least 517 detained. We are particularly appalled by the horrific assault on five ambulances, a fire truck and a UN vehicle on 23 March, following which the bodies of 15 Palestinian paramedics and rescue workers were discovered in a shallow grave. On the same day the surgical department at Nasser Hospital was attacked and, two days earlier, the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital was destroyed.
Attacks on healthcare have also been commonplace in the occupied West Bank, with 64 recorded by the World Health Organisation in January and February this year. Access to healthcare has also been limited by increased restrictions on freedom of movement, legislation banning UNRWA (the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East) and the increase in attacks on Palestinians by the IDF and settlers.
We condemn the forced displacement of 40,000 Palestinians from their homes in the northern West Bank; the demolition of hundreds of homes and other structures; the establishment of about 50 new illegal outposts and plans to construct tens of thousands of new settlement housing units, all of which contribute to the annexation of the West Bank and undermine the prospects of a two-state solution.
We are concerned by the detention of two Labour MPs and their staff, who were denied entry to Israel whilst on a parliamentary delegation to the West Bank with Medical Aid for Palestinians and the Council for Arab-British Understanding. MPs should have the right to witness and report on the situation in the West Bank and it is deeply concerning that they appear to have been detained and denied entry for comments they made in support of a ceasefire and Palestinian rights in the House of Commons.
We call on the UK government to unequivocally condemn the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the blocking of humanitarian aid, and call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire. We believe they must speak out and act immediately in support of the recognition of a state of Palestine as a contribution to a two-state solution, suspension of the arms trade and the UK-Israel trade and partnership agreement until human rights are respected, and a ban on trade with the illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
UNISON continues to encourage our members to campaign both in their workplaces and the wider community for justice for Palestinians, for an immediate, permanent ceasefire. We particularly support our members joining in the TUC-backed workplace days of action.
The article UNISON NEC issues statement on the situation in Gaza first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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