Political Inaction on Gaza and Palestine is a Criminal Negligence: ITUC General Secretary Luc Triangle’s Open Letter.

The world is witnessing an unimaginable horror. The boundaries of humanity have long been crossed, and red lines have been trampled upon. The war in Gaza and the ongoing oppression throughout Palestine must end.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has lasted for generations, but on October 7, 2023, with the heinous terrorist attacks committed by Hamas, we entered a new and devastating era. This attack was an act of savagery. However, the collective punishment inflicted upon millions of Palestinians in response is a crime of historic proportions.

In approximately the 22nd month of this war, more than 60,000 people have lost their lives, including over 15,000 children. 2.1 million Palestinians in Gaza face starvation and indiscriminate bombardment. The 3 million Palestinians in the West Bank are subjected to daily humiliation, violence, and systematic campaigns of land confiscation and settlement expansion.

And yet, apart from strong statements and global protests, the political world remains paralyzed, watching this humanitarian catastrophe unfold as if its hands were tied. This is not diplomacy. This is not neutrality. This is complicity.

This political inaction in the face of these atrocities is nothing short of criminal negligence. Many options exist under international law. The international community must act now.

Unions around the world are demanding urgent and sustained action.

1. Immediately Stop All Arms Shipments to All Parties

Governments that have armed this conflict, in the past or today, are co-responsible for this horror. All governments must stop fueling this war with more and heavier weapons. Every bomb, every bullet adds fuel to the fire and allows extremists to commit war crimes. All indiscriminate bombing and attacks on civilians must stop.

2. Ceasefire and Unrestricted Access for Humanitarian Aid

Every day in Gaza, innocent civilians are killed by bombardments or buried under rubble while searching for food to survive. In July 2024, I visited the Kerem Shalom border crossing from Israel to Gaza. I saw that the infrastructure was there. It is perfectly equipped to deliver food and aid to Gaza, but it is not being done.

Starvation persists not due to logistical limitations, but due to political decisions. Starvation is being used as a weapon of war. Those responsible for such a crime must be held accountable under international law. The international community must demand and enforce an immediate ceasefire and the unhindered delivery of food, water, and medical supplies to Gaza. Anything less is complicity.

3. Immediately Release All Hostages and Political Prisoners

Taking civilians hostage is a war crime. I met an Israeli woman who was held captive by Hamas for nearly two months. Her story was heartbreaking. Many of the hostages were progressive voices, kibbutz residents, and peace activists. Now they are being used as pawns in a brutal game.

At the same time, thousands of Palestinians are being held in Israeli prisons without the right to a fair trial. Many have never been brought before a judge. Detention without trial, especially on such a massive scale, violates fundamental rights and further fuels radicalization. Justice must be applied equally to everyone.

4. Recognize Palestine, End the Occupation, and Immediately Halt Trade with Illegal Settlements

A two-state solution has been the agreed-upon path since 1967. However, the recognition of a Palestinian state should not be a prize to be awarded at the end of negotiations. It is a prerequisite at the beginning of a genuine peace process. It is becoming increasingly clear that the current Israeli government does not want to live alongside a sovereign and independent Palestine.

After destroying Gaza, displacing its entire population, and expanding settlements, what will be left of Palestine when this terrible situation ends? How will we resolve and reverse the illegal settlements, the daily attacks by settlers, and the acts of intimidation and humiliation against Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem? Businesses and governments that profit from trade with the settlements enable their continued existence.

5. Strengthen Democracy to Secure Peace

In the West Bank, I saw the brutal reality of the occupation: endless checkpoints, settler violence, and a regime of discrimination reminiscent of the darkest days of apartheid in South Africa. Israel makes it impossible for the Palestinian Authority to govern and maintain its political and economic autonomy. This void is filled by extremists.

Hamas is a terrorist organization. The mass murder of 1,200 civilians and the hostage-taking of 250 people is a crime against humanity. However, the Israeli government led by Prime Minister Netanyahu has also chosen the path of extremism. The killing of over 60,000 Gazans, including thousands of children, and the starvation of the entire population are indefensible.

Hamas will not be defeated by Netanyahu. Hamas will be defeated by the Palestinian people if they are given the hope of a free and peaceful future, good jobs, and social and economic security. In May 2024, I personally saw how support for Hamas increased in the West Bank under the shadow of occupation, insecurity, humiliation, and poverty.

Palestinians need autonomy. They need rights. They need recognition. Israel rightfully demands security guarantees, and this demand must be met. However, peace cannot be built on subjugation.

Many people in Israel also know that this war cannot lead to peace and stability. Courageous citizens continue to protest against their government, demanding another path based on peace, not endless war. The current leaders of Israel and Hamas need each other to stay in power. Their wars are their survival strategies.

6. As the ITUC and Unions Worldwide, We Must Act Now

We stand in solidarity with our member organizations and other democratic forces in Palestine and Israel who continue to advocate for peace and reconciliation despite immense difficulties. We must build bridges between the Israeli Histadrut and the Palestinian PGFTU. We must speak the truth to power and to the people. We must pressure businesses and governments to act. We must press for the reopening of the Israeli labor market to Palestinian workers and for their labor rights to be respected. We must work towards a genuine two-state solution where a democratic, sovereign, and economically viable Palestine lives in peace and equality alongside a democratic Israel that respects the rights of all its neighbors.