Statement on ceasefire deal in Gaza
We have witnessed almost sixteen months of unrelenting terror and bombing upon the people of Gaza. Many of those who have not been murdered by drone strikes or bombs have succumbed to starvation, disease, and stress. For the two million people in Gaza who have struggled to survive under these unfathomable conditions, this ceasefire is a welcome moment of relief. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have died during Israel’s unrelenting genocide in Gaza. Even as the ceasefire agreement was underway, Israel continued its massacre of people and infrastructure in Gaza. It is worth remembering that the US could have imposed a ceasefire in Gaza a year ago but instead gave Israel free rein to destroy Gaza and ethnically cleanse Palestinians. Over the past 16 months, Israel has failed to achieve its objectives in Gaza. It has been forced into a ceasefire agreement mainly due to the steadfastness of the Palestinian resistance and the global supporters of Palestine.
Labour for Palestine welcomes the news of a ceasefire agreement. This ceasefire offers a moment for the people of Gaza to breathe again. To return to their destroyed homes and feel a brief sense of safety and comfort. This is the very least that the people of Gaza deserve after their live-streamed genocide has failed to make the world act. The return of Palestinian prisoners as part of this deal means that those who have long been held in inhumane conditions will be able to return to their loved ones and regain their humanity. Additionally, those displaced within Gaza will finally have a chance to return to their homes and feel a moment of comfort.
Despite the welcome news of this deal, we remain skeptical that Israel will honour the terms of this agreement or any subsequent phases. We recognize that this is a temporary halt and that Israel has broken ceasefire agreements before. We know this current deal is fragile. We also know Israel has a history of re-arresting newly released prisoners. Labour for Palestine believes that any deal that lacks justice for Palestinians at home or in the diaspora will never lead to a lasting peace. Israel refused to negotiate a ceasefire over the past 15 months. Instead, it continued to commit genocide with the support of the US, other imperialist states including Canada, and reactionary Arab regimes. While the ceasefire is a critical step to end the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza, let’s remember that the struggle for full liberation from occupation and apartheid will continue.
We are inspired by the steadfastness of the people of Gaza and Labour for Palestine pledges to remain equally steadfast in the coming weeks and months. This moment is not a time to turn away from the Palestine struggle, but to ramp up our work and apply more pressure to Canada, Israel, and all those complicit. Labour has a key role to play in this movement. This is a moment for all unions and workers to continue to move their locals and workplaces to apply more pressure on Israel and the international community. We will continue our call for divestments and sanctions on Israel and a two-way arms embargo. As an organization that is part of the international solidarity movement with Palestinian people and workers, we pledge to continue our work in support of full Palestinian liberation and we invite all those in the labour movement to do the same. We will not rest until Palestine is free.