Intervento di Mabel Grossi, Delegata sindacati CGIL, CISL e UIL (Italia), Sessione speciale sui Territori arabi occupati

© OIL

© OIL

Director General, Chair,

I take the floor on behalf of the Italian trade union confederations, CGIL CISL and UIL.

The ILO DG report on the situation of workers in the OPT portraits an appalling reality that demands the strongest condemnation especially after October the 7th. Italian trade unions reiterate their condemnation of the Hamas terrorist attack and the disproportionate military response promoted by the Israeli ultra-nationalist government that has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians, including more than 14,000 children, since that day. More than 77,000 civilians have been wounded and over 2.3 million have been forcibly displaced and the provision of essential aid to civilians severely disrupted. Moreover, the International Court of Justice, has held that it is ‘plausible’ that Israel is committing acts of genocide in Gaza and requested immediate and decisive action. The severe livelihoods and human loss, the estimated generational traumas and social costs of the 75-year-long occupation and violation of human rights, are having devastating effects on workers, trade unions and communities.

Italian trade unions believe that it is only through the effective enforcement of international law, that the world can restore peace and put a definitive end to this and many more massacres that thrive on the deliberate disregard of international law. As reiterated in the conclusions of the DG report, ‘Peace is feasible, but cannot be achieved without an end to the occupation and without international engagement. It is urgent now to foster initiatives which allow progress towards a fully independent, viable and sovereign Palestinian State’.

Italian trade unions support the recognition of Palestinian state following the path taken recently by Spain, Norway, Ireland, Slovenia joining the group of 143 UN member states that recognize Palestine as a sovereign state based on UN resolutions.

Also, Italian trade unions call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and welcome the Italian government’s and EU’s recent decision to refund UNRWA. We call on all governments to join and support the ILO fund to promote a swift recovery and rebuilding of the socio-economic infrastructure in the OPT.

Italian unions also urge the ILO to engage all tripartite constituents into promoting world disarmament for the full achievement of ILO Recommendation 205. War industry must be defunded and reconverted and the ILO should play an active role in promoting reconversion efforts.