Gaza is currently experiencing one of the worst humanitarian disasters in modern times. Since the Hamas terror attack on 7 October, Israel has carried out the most extensive bombing since the Vietnam War. Over 20,000 people have been killed, most of them women and children. The UN also warns of a widespread famine, while diseases are spreading as health services collapse.
Hamas' terror must be condemned and the Israeli hostage must be released immediately. But nothing can justify the brutal Israeli violence the world is now witnessing and the suffering of the Palestinian civilian population.
The war has also had consequences in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) reports that 195,000 Palestinians are no longer able to support their families because they are excluded from the Israeli labour market. A large number of Palestinian workers have been arrested under unclear circumstances. Others have been killed by Israeli settler extremists.
LO condemns all parties' acts of violence against civilians and demands an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. All parties must respect international law. War crimes must be investigated and those responsible must be held accountable.
Comprehensive international support is also a prerequisite for long-term peace and reconstruction. The Swedish government's decision to pause Swedish development aid to Palestine goes in the opposite direction. Instead, the decision risks weakening the forces working for dialogue and reconciliation.
Continued violence and extremism will only exacerbate the long-standing conflict. The only possible path to a just peace is an end to Israel's occupation and two independent states where Palestinians and Israelis can live side by side.