Gaza: EFJ joins ETUC in calling the EU to consider a military embargo
The European Federation of Journalists strongly supported the Resolution for a ceasefire in Israel and Palestine adopted by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). The resolution commends the work of journalists “risking their lives in Gaza for crucial service to humanity and democracy”. It encourages Governments to consider what they can do unilaterally to prevent war crimes, including the introduction of sanctions, and calls on the EU to consider a military embargo.
During the debate preceding the adoption of the resolution by the ETUC Executive Committee, the EFJ general secretary Ricardo Gutiérrez highlighted the fact that the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has documented the cases of 116 journalists killed since 7 October: 109 Palestinians, 4 Israelis and 3 Lebanese. “Never in contemporary history has our profession experienced such a massacre in such a short period of time,” said Gutiérrez, welcoming the ETUC resolution.
With the failure of the latest truce talks and Netanyahu government’s ground invasion of Rafah by the Israeli army, the ETUC calls on the EU to take a clear stance against extreme right policies of belligerence, “using all appropriate measures for immediate action to avoid further death and destruction in Rafah and across the Gaza Strip”.
The resolution also stresses the importance of respecting and implementing the 26 January, 28 March and 24 May 2024 orders of the International Court of Justice: “the response by Israel is both disproportionate and outside the limits of international law”. The ETUC encourage Governments to consider what they can do unilaterally to prevent war crimes, including the introduction of sanctions, and calls on the EU to consider a military embargo.
“The ETUC reiterates its deep concerns about the grave loss of lives and catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and its effect on civilians, in particular children and women (…). The ETUC commends the work of all those front line workers providing humanitarian support in this crisis and expresses its support in particular to aid workers and journalists risking their lives in Gaza for their work and crucial service to humanity and democracy.”
