UNITE London/Eastern Region supports cease-fire in Gaza

By Left Horizons supporters.

Today, the London and Eastern Regional Committee of UNITE passed the following emergency motion, to go to the national EC of the union:

This Regional Committee welcomes the decision of the South African government to submit a complaint to the International Court of Justice which: 

1.  Calls for Israel to immediately suspend its military operations in Gaza and for a ceasefire,  
2. Exposes Israel’s military response as criminally disproportionate, involving over 100 days of indiscriminate bombing 
3. Most importantly exposes the IDF strategy of genocide against the Palestinian people, using the ethnic cleansing of Gaza 

The above brutal disproportionate military strategy by Israel has not helped release the Israeli hostages. The only hostages released so far have been during a negotiated time – limited truce negotiated between Hamas and Israel. Only a ceasefire and forcing Israel to seriously negotiate a two-state solution will lead to a lasting, sustainable and a just peace in Palestine. 

We also note that the overwhelming majority of the munitions used against the mainly civilian population in Gaza are manufactured and supplied by the US. These include 2000-pound bombs never designed to be used in an urban area and capable of killing everyone in a 1000 feet blast radius. International humanitarian law prohibits indiscriminate bombing. 

The last time these bombs were used was in Vietnam, when the US infamously declared its intention was to bomb North Vietnam back to the stone age. 

The Israeli state is inflicting an inhuman collective punishment on the whole of the Palestinian people in Gaza in retaliation for the 7 October brutal atrocity carried out by Hamas. 

At this time all progressive forces, particularly the trade unions representing working people, must stand up in defence of the Palestinians trapped in Gaza and demand a ceasefire. 

This Regional Committee notes that: 

At the huge national Palestine demonstrations organised in London and other major UK cities by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. 

• There has been no national Unite banner, or any other national presence (though there were regional banners). 
• There has been no prominent Unite national speaker.
• The Unite website and social media platforms have not advertised the demonstrations or urged Unite members to join. 

We therefore call on our General Secretary to ensure: 

• A national Unite presence and focus is organised at the next PSC National march and demonstration and all future marches/demonstrations called by PSC (the solidarity organisation Unite is affiliated to) in support of the besieged Palestinian people in Gaza. 
• Arrangements are made for a prominent National speaker from Unite to speak at this and all future PSC marches/demonstrations. 
• The Unite website and social media platforms advertise prominently the next march on 13 January and all future PSC mobilisations calling for Unite to urge members to join it.
 
• That the General Secretary writes to all branches nationally, urging members to join this National march and that resources are in place to facilitate members wishing to travel to attend PSC marches/demonstrations.