UNITE HERE LOCAL 75 STATEMENT ON THE CURRENT HOSTILE SITUATION IN GAZA-ISRAEL

UNITE HERE Local 75 joins the growing calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a safe corridor to allow much-needed aid into the besieged area. Humanitarian organizations call the situation on the ground in Gaza “catastrophic”, as no water, electricity, or basic supplies have been allowed into the Gaza strip, home to over 2 million people, since the October 7^th Hamas attack on Israel.

As the situation in Gaza worsens, where more than 8,000 civilians, including over 3,000 children have been killed, UNITE HERE Local 75 calls for a definite end to all hostilities from all sides, and urges the Canadian government to work with the Israeli and Egyptian governments to lift the 17 year old blockade on the Gaza strip so that the people of Gaza can have their basic rights of movement, freedom, and safety and security, and their dignity restored.

As of now, all hospitals in Gaza are overwhelmed with patients, injured victims, and displaced families seeking shelter after their homes were bombed. That is not all; the blockade and constant besiegement on the small, dense area have left hospitals without any fuel or clean water, making room for the spread of infectious diseases and making treating those in urgent need nearly impossible.

Without a complete cessation of hostilities, any attempts to let aid into Gaza would be futile, as vehicles, civilians, schools, shelters, and even hospitals have been targeted and bombed. UNITE HERE Local 75 calls on all stakeholders with power to act immediately to stop the violence before any further, preventable casualties.