Starting the narrative from October 7, 2023, is unjust because the hardships faced by the Palestinian people have been ongoing for 75 years prior to the emergence of groups like Hamas. Historical records do not show the participation of Palestinians or Arabs in the Nazi Holocaust or the Inquisition, but they do document their forced displacement from their villages and cities through brutal means by Zionist groups, a form of terrorism that has persisted since 1948. This situation continued so that all Palestinians remaining in the historical land of Palestine are living in dire conditions under apartheid-like circumstances.

Nevertheless, it is worth noting that history does not record any peace initiatives originating from Israel towards its Arab neighbors. Instead, it was the Arabs, with a particular mention of the Egyptians, who took the first steps towards peace following the 1973 war. Despite significant milestones like the 1978 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel and the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993, including the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements and the 1994 Gaza-Jericho Agreement, which led to the establishment of the Palestinian Authority, the progress was hampered by Israel's contentious actions. This includes the establishment of illegal settlements and the construction of the separation fence, which disrupted the peace process and transformed Gaza into one of the world's largest open-air detention facilities. These actions left no room for the Arab population to accept Israel's presence in the region, viewing it solely as a foreign occupation imposed through force. Consequently, the prospect of a lasting and stable peace remains tenuous.

The ongoing situation in Gaza exemplifies a Zionist atrocity that challenges the conscience of anyone who observes it. Moreover, this conduct is in direct violation of international laws, as stipulated in the Rome Statute, which declares that "the intentional use of starvation of civilians as a tactic in armed conflicts constitutes a war crime in international conflicts." The Vice President of the United Nations for Humanitarian Affairs has expressed that the depletion of fuel within Gaza's hospitals effectively amounts to a death sentence imposed upon the sick and injured, who number in the thousands. This also amounts to a death sentence for the general population due to the disruption of essential services such as water, ambulances, civil defense, and bakeries.

The Rome Statute also specifies that causing extensive destruction of property and seizing it without a military necessity that justifies such actions, in contravention of the law and in a heedless manner, qualifies as a war crime. In the current conflict, over 6,000 residential buildings and towers owned by civilians have been destroyed, with more than 17,000 housing units completely razed. Furthermore, 164 thousand housing units have suffered damage, along with approximately 11 thousand housing units rendered uninhabitable. This means that roughly half of the residential units in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed, and the damage extends to include the demolition of 67 government facilities in various regions, as well as hospitals, schools, mosques, churches, and other vital infrastructure. This ongoing onslaught has also entailed the deprivation of water, fuel, medication, and food for 2 million people. Additionally, the bombings have displaced even more Palestinians, with the total number of displaced individuals reaching approximately 600,000 who are seeking refuge in 150 UNRWA sites located throughout Gaza.

The Rome Statute further outlines that it constitutes a war crime to deliberately initiate an attack with the awareness that such an attack will result in substantial loss of life or harm to civilians, the infliction of civilian suffering, or the infliction of extensive, enduring, and severe damage to the natural environment that would be manifestly disproportionate in comparison to the anticipated direct, concrete military advantages.

During the composition of this statement, the Palestinian Ministry of Health has declared the full collapse of the healthcare system in Gaza and the suspension of hospital operations. This is in response to the previous day's tragic loss of over 5,087 Palestinian lives, of which women and children accounted for more than 62% of the casualties. Among these losses, 2,055 children, 1,119 women, and 19 journalists lost their lives, with over 15,273 individuals sustaining injuries. The infrastructure in the region has been virtually decimated.

The question arises: Where does the international community stand, what about international law, and where are the fundamental human values? The act of complicit silence displayed by governments worldwide in the face of the occupation's brutality is as grave a transgression as the actions of Israel itself. In fact, it casts those governments in the role of adversaries to those who, with a clear conscience, perceive the ongoing events as a genocide on a scale no less severe than the atrocities that marked the outset of this tragedy with the Nazis. This not only erodes any credibility in the governments' future appeals for upholding international law and human rights but also deepens the perception that they are complicit in the unfolding tragedy.

Throughout its extensive history, the trade union movement has remained steadfast in upholding the principles of peace, justice, and equality. Its unwavering commitment has consistently favored human rights and rejected any form of occupation. In our capacity as members of the independent trade union movement, dedicated to promoting peace and unity among global communities, we implore you to join us in demonstrating solidarity and supporting the fundamental right to life for the Palestinian people. We earnestly request that you use all available means to compel governments to work towards an immediate ceasefire and provide comprehensive humanitarian assistance to the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip.

The Signatories

• Trade Union of Workers in the Federation of Unions of Workers in the Ambulance Authority

• The Union of Workers in Telecom Egypt (WE)

• The Union of Workers in Leoni Wiring Systems

• The Union of Workers in Mondelez Egypt

• The Trade Union Committee for Damietta Fishers

• The Professional Trade Union Committee of fishermen in Gammaleyya

• The Professional Trade Union Committee of fishermen in Ras El Bar and Ezbet el Borg

• The Professional Union of Tourism Professionals in Cairo

• The Professional Union of Tourism Professionals in Giza

• The Union of Workers in External Trading and Commercial Agreements in the Ministry of Trade and Industry

• The Trade Union Committee of Workers in the Adult Education Authority

• The Independent Union of Architecture Workers in Mahalla

• The Union of Small Farmers in Menia

• The Union of Workers in the Hostels of Al-Azhar University

• Trade Union Committee of Workers in Suez Canal Clubs

• The Union of Workers in Real Estate Taxation in the Governorate of Kafr El-Shiekh

• The Union of Workers in Real Estate Taxation in the Governorate of Ismailia

• The Occupational Union for Drivers' Services in Qalyobeya

• The Independent Union of Workers in Quality Authority

• The Professional Union of Workers in Local Development Department in Menouf

• The Independent Union of Workers at Ain Shams Faculty of Law

• The Committee for Defending Trade Union Freedoms and Labor Rights

• The Permanent Conference for Working Women

• The Center for Trade Union & Workers' Services (CTUWS)