We, the undersigned citizens across the world, come together to express our profound concerns over the Israeli genocide of Gaza and call for the aforementioned unions to strike and terminate operations and relations with Israel. We firmly believe that it is time for all workers to take human responsibility and do their duty in severing ties with a nation that has blatantly disregarded international law and is still currently causing immense suffering to thousands of innocent men, women, and children in Palestine.

As atrocities continue, we see that calls for a ceasefire, to grant humanitarian aid to the displaced Gazans, have repeatedly been cast aside as world leaders repeatedly fail to take any effective action to save the Gazans. Instead, alongside protests held by civilians across the world, are the trade unions, and climate activists that have taken up arms to put a stop to the senseless genocide.

Observing these matters, we are creating this petition to urge unions from certain sectors to STRIKE and CEASE ALL OPERATIONS with Israel to effectively exert pressure on world leaders and Israel for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a withdrawal of the Israeli military troops.

This call to the Trade Unions of the Global North, entails the following:

1. Ceasing all operations pertaining directly and indirectly to Israel's oil and natural gas industry

2. Protesting for the supply of fuel in Gaza to be restored. This has become crucial at this stage as Gazan medical facilities are on the brink of/in collapse due to lack of fuel. 

WHY THE OIL AND NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY?

Following the Russia-Ukraine war beginning in 2022, Israel has emerged as the “beacon of hope” for the European Union as they searched for alternative fuel sources. Israel’s exports to Europe increased by 50% following the conflict. Following this, several countries in the Middle East, such as Turkey, decided to set aside their differences in favour of establishing “gas cooperation”.

The EU then found a solution to their gas crisis lying off the coast of Palestine; the Leviathan gas field, which houses 22 trillion cubic feet of natural gas worth half a billion dollars.

 

 

Alongside the EU, the US and the rest of the Middle East, with their huge deposits of natural gas, very much need the world to remain dependent on this fuel source. Hence, Israel becomes a key player in gaining access to this gas field so that natural gas and oil may continue to dominate the energy sector. 

It is this source of international support that makes the current attack on Gaza much more devastating than any previous military operation in Gaza by the Israeli administration. 

From the timeline below, it is clear that the presence of natural gas reserves in offshore Gaza AND the international support garnered by Israel through the energy deals are the driving factors behind the present Israeli aggression on Gaza.

 

 

 

 

For more in depth analysis of the timeline, click here.

 

 

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has made more such deals with Azerbaijan, and has issued 12 licenses on gas exploration to six companies. Energeon, one of these six companies even commented: 

“Active, committed investors in a country at war should be respected and supported." 

 

 

 

THE NEED FOR TRADE UNIONS TO STRIKE IMMEDIATELY

Since the beginning of Israel’s military operations on Gaza last month, now extending to Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt, it has been clear that the United Nations and the international community has repeatedly failed to bring about any effective ceasefire.

Demands for ceasefire have been left majorly ignored, especially with international powers showing clear reluctance to pressure Israel towards a ceasefire, given the capital incentives for the EU and US. Now that a reliance on government intervention has proven futile, it is now up to the people to put the necessary pressure on Israel for an effective ceasefire that will save hundreds of thousands of lives.

Unions have historically contributed to anti-war efforts, and the Palestinian genocide should be no different. Trade unions have proudly protested against Apartheid in the past with the efforts of maritime workers, teachers, construction workers, and many others joining together to deter, delay, and halt the actions of oppressors.

The Maritime Union of Australia recently rallied against Israeli container shipping line Zim with the support of Trade Unions for Palestine. After truck blockades led by unionists and community members on November 10, Zim, which publicly declared support for Israel’s war and exports weapons to Israel, including allegedly white phosphorus, was forced to divert ship routes.  This diversion places financial pressure on Israel’s imports and is effective action against the current genocide which relies on financial power and international weapons imports to continue its violence.

In March of this year, IndustriALL spearheaded an unprecedented union protest in Israel that shut down an airport, and two maritime ports, and paused a significant part of the retail sector. The protest ultimately succeeded in its goal to suspend proposed legislation that would drastically change the judicial system.

The IndustriALL Global Union and IndustriALL European Trade Union have both expressed opposition and protested against Israel’s annexation of Palestinian lands.

Several unions across the globe have engaged in active protests and demonstrations to rally for the Palestinian cause; in Barcelona, Belgium, USA, UK, India, Italy.  Protests by civilians are also ongoing worldwide.

On October 16 of this year, Palestinian trade unions issued an urgent call for international trade unions to take action against the arms trade to Israel.

The call reads:

 

“Palestinian trade unions call on our counterparts internationally and all people of conscience to end all forms of complicity with Israel’s crimes—most urgently halting the arms trade with Israel, as well as all funding and military research. The time for action is NOW—Palestinian lives hang in the balance."

 

This urgent, genocidal situation can only be prevented by a mass increase of global solidarity with the people of Palestine and that can restrain the Israeli war machine. We need you to take immediate action—wherever you are in the world—to prevent the arming of the Israeli state and the companies involved in the infrastructure of the blockade. We take inspiration from previous mobilisations by trade unions in Italy, South Africa, and the United States, and similar international mobilisations against the Italian invasion of Ethiopia in the 1930s, the fascist dictatorship in Chile in the 1970s, and elsewhere where global solidarity limited the extent of colonial brutality.

 

It is clear that trade union actions have been and will continue to be effective, if not utterly crucial in the ending of brutality against Palestinians. Unions such as IndustriALL have already voiced support for Palestine, and we are calling upon them to prove their support by using their power to cease operations of Israel’s oil and gas industry, which would put vital pressure on Israel’s military to finally declare a ceasefire that will prevent the killings of hundreds and thousands of innocent people.

We strongly implore that global trade unions, particularly:

• the European Trade Union Confederation
• the International Trade Union Confederation
• IndustriALL Global Union
• European Community Shipowners Association
• United Auto Workers

 

Will hereby express their commitment to striking against the atrocities in Gaza by way of halting all oil and gas operations with Israel. We kindly request that these unions issue a response to this call to assert their commitment and encourage others to follow in kind.