European Trade Union Network for Justice in Palestine endorsers and supports the following appeal issued by the unions in the health sector.
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We, unions in the health sector, organizations of health workers or active in the health sector, and health personnel, are outraged by what is happening today and has been happening for months in the Gaza Strip. When Israel deliberately attacks ambulances or humanitarian convoys, when Israel systematically destroys health infrastructures killing patients and carers, when Israel blocks all humanitarian aid and tries to use it as a weapon of deportation, … we feel terrified about the limits a state’s barbarity can exceed.
The deprivation of health care and humanitarian aid has become a weapon of war aimed at annihilating the Palestinian people. As representatives of healthcare workers, or organizations active in the sector, we can only be outraged by what our colleagues and the Palestinian population are going through. But above all, we are outraged by the inaction of national and European authorities. We all have blood on our hands!
The facts:
The latest WHO report (May 05, 2025) shows that at least 686 attacks have had an impact on healthcare (infrastructure, personnel, etc.), killing 910 people and injuring 1,380. 122 healthcare facilities have been affected, including 33 hospitals, and 180 ambulances destroyed. Half of all
health services are now only partially functional. As recently as March 23, 15 aid workers were killed by the Israeli army in the south of the Gaza Strip while travelling in their ambulances, which were completely identifiable, clearly marked as rescue vehicles.
Since March 02, the blockage of humanitarian aid has prevented the distribution of the 171,000 tonnes of food ready to enter Gaza (enough to feed the population for 4 months). Malnutrition is now widespread, and the rare foodstuffs still available are unaffordable. Israel is proposing to manage the distribution of aid itself, using it to displace the population.
The denunciation:
Using attacks on hospital and health infrastructures, massacring medical personnel on mission and blocking humanitarian aid, as a weapon to promote the deportation and annihilation of a population: there’s no doubt about it, this is a war crime deliberately perpetrated by a state.
The demand:
Europe and its member countries cannot stand idly by. Europe, together with the international community, must unequivocally condemn these war crimes, and impose an immediate ceasefire on Israel. This must allow the free movement and integrity of rescue and humanitarian
services and personnel. This requires both the protection of health workers to enable them to carry out their mission, and unconditional access to humanitarian aid and health care infrastructures.
We demand that Europe takes all necessary and sufficient action to force Israel to do so. To this end, an important but insufficient first step must be the immediate suspension of the Association Agreement with Israel.
The signatories call on trade unions and organizations active in the healthcare sector to co-sign this appeal and join the demonstration organized on June 19 at 10.30 a.m. in front of the European Parliament in Brussels. They call on them to circulate this appeal, and to pass it on en masse to the MEPs of their countries, to the elected representatives and governments of their countries, and to the European Commission.
The link to join the Appeal: https://forms.office.com/e/mEshF2TVcL
First signatories:
CNE-CSC (B)
Sébastien Robeet, Secrétaire national
CGSP- ACOD (FGTB-ABVV) (B)
Muriel Di Martinelli, Secrétaire fédérale
Olivier Nyssen, Secrétaire général Admin
ACV- PULS (B)
Olivier Remy, Nationaal Secretaris
SETCA- BBTK (FGTB-ABVV) (B)
Nathalie Lionnet, Secrétaire fédérale
Johan Van Eeghem, Vice-President
VISION (SE)
Veronica Magnusson, President
KOMMUNAL (SE)
Barbro Andersson, Vice-President
VÅRDFÖRBUNDET (SE)
Sineva Ribeiro, President
ASSR (SE)
Eike Herkers, President
FSS-CCOO (E)
Humberto Munoz, General Secretary
FP CGIL (I)
Serena Sorrentino, General Secretary
NNO (N)
Lill Sverresdatter Larsen, President
CGT FSAS (F)
Barbara Filhol, Secrétaire générale
UNSSP (FO) (F)
Franck Houlgatte, secrétaire général