On the occasion of May Day, DWRC calls on workers and unions worldwide to strengthen their solidarity actions with their Palestinian sisters and brothers, and call on governments to stop Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and bring an end to its illegal occupation of the Palestinian Territory and its apartheid regime
Ramallah & Gaza – 1 May 2025 – The Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center in Palestine sends its solidarity greetings to workers and unions in Palestine and worldwide on the occasion of May Day, calling on the global labor movement to harness its collective power to organize and mobilize for stopping Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and bringing an end to its illegal occupation of the Palestinian Territory and apartheid regime. We would also like to take this opportunity to express our profound gratitude to our partners, and all organizations, unions, comrades and activists, who have been standing up and raising their voices for peace and justice in Palestine and all other countries affected by conflicts, denial of most fundamental human rights and human dignity.
In 2024, the unemployment rate in occupied Palestine reached 51%, 80% in the Gaza Strip and 35% in the West Bank, compared to an overall rate of 31% in 2023 before the war. Three quarters of Palestinian youth (74%) are outside education, training and the labor market and 61% of West Bank workers are in informal employment, i.e. deprived of their most basic labor rights. ta
The war on Gaza has been ongoing for 18 months. 52,418 Palestinians have been killed and 118,091 injured (MOH Gaza), with thousands more still missing and presumed dead, while over 900 have been killed in the West Bank since October 7, 2023. For the past 60 days, Israel has refused to allow any food, medical supplies, fuel and other essential goods to enter into the Gaza Strip, exposing 2.2 million Palestinians, including 1 million children, to heightened risks of dying from diseases, injuries and malnutrition, and, if they survive, long-term health consequences due to prolonged severe trauma and deprival of food and clean water. Since ending the ceasefire, Israel has resumed its bombing and shelling of homes, tents, hospitals and agricultural lands. This very morning, the media reported that 3 farmers were targeted by an Israeli missile and killed while on their way to their farmlands in Khan Younis, amidst an acute food shortage where meager local agricultural produce has become a lifeline for many. Bakeries in Gaza are no longer functioning. UN aid supplies warehouses are empty, and 95% of humanitarian organizations had to suspend or dramatically cut their services to the population. 65,000 persons have sought medical attention due to the effects of malnutrition according to the Gaza governmental media office.
As the global union movement is engaging in a historical struggle to preserve democracy, fundamental rights and freedoms, and labor and social benefits from the destructive effects of authoritarian and far-right regimes and policies serving the interests of the richest, it has also reaffirmed its engagement for promoting peace and justice and working to protect and safeguard international institutions and the international legal framework that has underpinned the advancement of universal human rights.
In this critical context, DWRC reiterates its calls on workers and unions worldwide to stand with the Palestinian people, and call on their governments to take all measures necessary to stop the starvation of Gaza’s population, impose a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and bring an end to Israel’s illegal settler-colonial occupation of the Palestinian Territory and its apartheid regime, in line with UN resolutions and in compliance with the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) Advisory Opinion of July 2024 on The Legal Consequences Arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, which concluded on the following legal obligations of other States:
“All States are under an obligation not to recognize as legal the situation arising from the unlawful presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. They are also under an obligation not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israel’s illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
It is for all States, while respecting the Charter of the United Nations and international law, to ensure that any impediment resulting from the illegal presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory to the exercise of the Palestinian people of its right to self-determination is brought to an end.
In addition, all the States parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention have the obligation, while respecting the Charter of the United Nations and international law, to ensure compliance by Israel with international humanitarian law as embodied in that Convention.”
On May Day and every day until we achieve freedom, peace and justice, we ask you to spread awareness and act in solidarity with Palestinian workers:
* Watch & share our video on how Israeli movement obstacles in the West Bank are impacting Palestinian workers on a daily basis: https://youtube.com/watch?v=1QuQlPpoMG8
Organize debates, discussions, solidarity events, engage in cooperation projects and send delegations to Palestine
* Send letters to US embassies and consulates expressing your rejection and condemnation of US policies that shield, fund and enable Israel’s war in Gaza and the continuation of its illegal settler-colonial occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory
*Undertake advocacy towards your government and parliament for the adoption of concrete measures, including both ways embargos on arms, to pressure Israel to abide with international law and provide international protection to the Palestinian people
*And if you are already doing all this, reach out to other unions and social forces to join you and the growing civil society movement seeking to shift the balance of power
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