The ITUC-Asia Pacific welcomes the recent ceasefire agreement in Gaza as a long-awaited and essential step towards ending the horrific cycle of violence that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and caused immense suffering for civilians in both Gaza and Israel.
“The ceasefire must not only mark the end of one phase of violence, but the beginning of a genuine process towards peace, justice, and reconstruction,” said Shoya Yoshida, General Secretary of ITUC-Asia Pacific. “A just and lasting peace cannot be imposed through force or occupation. it must be founded on respect for international law and a viable two-state solution that ensures dignity and security for all.”
The ITUC-Asia Pacific calls for the immediate and full implementation of the ceasefire agreement and urges all parties to pursue negotiations that will lead to a permanent ceasefire and a sustainable and comprehensive resolution to the conflict.
The ITUC-Asia Pacific also condemns all attacks on civilians, including the terrorist acts committed by Hamas on 7 October 2023, as well as the indiscriminate bombardments, blockades, and collective punishments inflicted by Israel upon Gaza’s civilian population.
“The violence must end once and for all, as in every conflict, it is working people and their families who bear the heaviest burden. We stand in solidarity with trade unions and workers in both Palestine and Israel who oppose war, terrorism, and occupation, and who continue to work courageously for peace, democracy, and social justice,” Shoya Yoshida said.
The ITUC-Asia Pacific also calls on all governments, international institutions, and social partners to fully support the implementation of the ceasefire, ensure the protection of civilians, enable unrestricted humanitarian access, and create the conditions for reconstruction and reconciliation. It further urges donor governments, regional bodies, and international aid and financial institutions to ensure that all assistance and engagement are tied to respect for international law, human rights, labour standards, and credible accountability mechanisms that strengthen Palestinian institutional capacity.
“Trade unions across our region know that peace and justice are inseparable,” Yoshida said. “We will continue to stand with workers in Palestine and Israel who are striving to end oppression, rebuild their communities, and claim a future defined not by conflict, but by equality and solidarity.”
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