'Justice must be served'

Unite delegate Sarah Carpenter gave a powerful contribution in support of a motion on Palestine on the final day of Congress on Wednesday (September 11).

She reiterated Unite’s unwavering call, alongside other unions, over the last 11 months since the conflict in Palestine began, for “a permanent, unconditional, ceasefire”.

“Unite also condemns the genocide and the collective punishment of the Palestinian people,” she said. “This is a war crime, pure and simple.”

Sarah recounted how Unite’s general secretary Sharon Graham has met with the Palestinian ambassador and is meeting with the general secretaries of Labour-affiliated unions following Congress “to discuss a collective way forward including putting pressure on Labour”.

“The unbearable terror, suffering and deaths of innocent civilians – people just like us – parents, siblings, workers and thousands of children – must end,” Sarah told Congress.

“We are surely united in this room that there should be respect for international law,” she added. “We must protect all civilians, hostages must be released unharmed, and there must be safe access to food, water, electricity, medical, sanitary and fuel supplies.”

Saran went on to explain that international law makes it clear that civilian killings, hostage-taking and collective punishment are all war crimes.

“Justice must be served,” she asserted.

“The whole international community must work towards a comprehensive and lasting peace, based around a two-state solution, ensuring human rights for all and the end of oppression, violence and ethnic cleansing as well as the military occupation of Palestinian territory and the blockade of Gaza,” Sarah continued.

She also called on the trade union movement to work together to “combat the anti-Muslim racism, anti-semitism and all racism that is increasing in our workplaces and communities. We have debated this already this week, but our words must turn into actions”.

Urging support for the motion, Sarah concluded by highlighting that unions must also work to “ensure that union members and workers are not targeted or blamed for what is happening in this conflict”.

By Hajera Blagg

Photo by Mark Thomas

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