1199SEIU Statement Regarding Israel and Palestine
October 12, 2023
The horrific war crimes committed by Hamas do not justify the Israeli military’s response of collectively punishing the Palestinian people, who have been living under increasingly dire circumstances. We call for the immediate end to the bombing of civilian infrastructure and the lifting of the blockade barring food, water, and medicine into the Gaza Strip, home to over one million children.
The vast majority of Israelis and Palestinians want to live in peace. The escalating violence initiated by Hamas cannot be allowed to continue to spiral into a devastating war that will take untold numbers of innocent lives.
The US and the international community must lead with diplomacy and a demand for all sides involved in this conflict to honor international humanitarian law and abide by UN resolutions.