Palestinian ambassador addresses TUC General Council

Speaking after the meeting TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said:  

“The TUC welcomed the Palestinian Ambassador, Dr Husam Zomlot, to address our General Council today.  

“We jointly call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, respect for international law, accountability and unimpeded access to humanitarian aid in Gaza. There must also be an end to the settler violence in the West Bank and de-escalation of hostilities in the region. 

“The TUC continues to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and calls for an end to the occupation of Palestinian territory.  

“We support genuine efforts towards a just, lasting and comprehensive peace that is consistent with international law, and is based on a two-state solution, which promotes equality, democracy and respect for human and labour rights, as set out in our new General Council statement.” 

The TUC’s new General Council statement, published today, states that the UK government must:  

• call for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further loss of life 
• enable prompt and effective access to humanitarian aid, with funding to UNRWA resumed 
• work to secure the safe release of all hostages unharmed 
• take action alongside the international community to ensure that international law is upheld and applied consistently – this includes ending the occupation of Palestinian territory 
• insist that Israel complies, in full, with the binding provisional measures issued by the ICJ, and take action to ensure that it is not complicit in any war crimes 
• stop direct arms sales to Israel, along with all collaboration between our armed forces, and encourage partner governments to do the same 
• work with unions in our defence sector to protect our wider defence alliances / partnerships alongside current and future UK work content, supporting jobs and communities that will be impacted by any such action 
• recognise the State of Palestine 
• ensure that decent work and quality public services are prioritised in the rebuilding of Gaza 
• halt trade talks with Israel 
• ban the UK’s trade in settlement goods
• protect the right to peaceful protest in solidarity with the Palestinian people