‘We stand with them’

The crisis in Palestine was discussed in a comprehensive motion calling for an end to the killing and action from the UK government.

The composite listed a number of urgent demands from the government. These were to ?take meaningful action to secure an immediate, complete, and permanent ceasefire with full access for food and aid delivery into Gaza, an end to the siege and the release of hostages; to implement international court rulings and immediately recognise the State of Palestine contributing to a two-state solution; immediately end all licences for arms traded and military collaboration with Israel in line with international law.

To ?implement a total ban on all trade which aids or assists Israel?s violations of international law including with Israel?s illegal settlements;? and finally to ?repeal the authoritarian proscription of Palestine Action under counter-terrorism laws and uphold and strengthen the right to peaceful protest following the arrest of activists, including Ben Jamal, on peaceful Palestine Solidarity Campaign marches.?

Unite?s executive head of operations, Sarah Carpenter, spoke in support on behalf of Unite.

Addressing Congress she said, ?There is nobody in this hall and nobody in our movement who has not watched Israel?s brutal onslaught in Gaza with complete horror. On our TV screens and on social media platforms we see, in the most heartbreaking terms, a level of crime against humanity we all wish had been long consigned to history.

?The murder of children. The targeting of hospitals and of aid distribution centres. The workers who lie dead and silenced in the rubble. The bloodshed and the horror appear to be beyond words.

?But there are words for it and we must not shy away from them. Ethnic cleansing. Genocide. Our brothers and sisters in Palestine call for our support. We have a duty to stand with them.?

She said that the Congress ?must demand the Labour government uses its international position to bring an end to the genocide and to find a negotiated solution. That must mean an immediate end to the killing in Gaza.

?We must demand our government places effective and immediate sanctions on the Israeli economy ? including the seizure of assets held in the UK. London must not be used as a laundering hub by the Netanyahu regime and its supporters.?

Sarah added that the recognition of the state of Palestine, as part of a two-state solution. Labour promised it in its manifesto and it must be delivered.

She continued, ?For our part, our support for the Palestinian people must be practical as well as political. We must put our full collective strength to the task of stopping UK complicity in the genocide and the flouting of international law.?

But she stressed this next point. ?Remember it is the regimes and governments responsible that need to be condemned not the workers. Unite stands with our fellow unions in being committed to supporting worker led campaigns to boycott the handling of Israeli goods and services.

?And we must fully support all those fleeing the conflict and receive Palestinian refugees ? and all refugees ? with compassion and assistance.

In closing she appealed to the conference to ?Recommit ourselves now to our solidarity with the people of Palestine.?

By Amanda Campbell

Photo by Mark Thomas