The recent announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza is an initial, but tenuous, step towards a just and lasting peace in Palestine. Far more is needed, and it is imperative to keep pressure on the U.S. government to ensure that the ceasefire is made permanent, that reconstruction of Gaza is adequately funded, and that the Israeli government end its occupation of the West Bank and its threats and military aggression against other countries in the region.
This ceasefire is long overdue — since negotiations broke down last summer, tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military. However, the ceasefire has not meant an end to Israeli violence against Palestinians. Following the deal, both the Israeli military and settler mobs launched a fresh round of violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, and many right-wing Israeli political leaders are openly demanding that the military renew its assault on Gaza as soon as the initial, temporary phase of the ceasefire concludes.
The U.S. and Israeli governments have a tremendous obligation to ensure that Palestinians are allowed to rebuild lives of peace and prosperity in Gaza, with self-determination and the right of refugees to return to their land. They must not only provide resources for reconstruction, they must ensure that the Israeli military cease its interference with humanitarian aid.
Furthermore, Israel’s threats and military aggression against other countries in the region, including its recent bombing of Lebanon and seizing of territory from Syria, continue to be an obstacle to peace. We reiterate the demand, made by UE members at our 2023 national convention, that the U.S. end all military aid to Israel, and pressure it to end its occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, its military siege of Gaza, and its military provocations against its neighbors.
The fact that this ceasefire agreement is essentially the same one rejected by Israel last summer has made plain the Biden Administration’s unwillingness to put pressure on the Israeli government. Regardless of whether the impetus came from Biden’s interest in securing his “legacy” or Donald Trump’s efforts (both are claiming credit), it is clear that the U.S. could have successfully pressured Israel to agree to this deal half a year ago — and saved tens of thousands of lives — if Biden had been willing to use the threat of cutting off U.S. arms sales.
While Trump is claiming credit for the ceasefire, we recognize that he is no friend to the Palestinian cause. His ending of sanctions on Israeli settlers and threats against the International Criminal Court for its investigations of Israeli war crimes have encouraged further Israeli violence. Recently, Trump outrageously suggested that the U.S. and Israel “just clean out” Gaza, forcibly and permanently relocating the over one million Palestinians who live there to other countries — essentially, an endorsement of ethnic cleansing.
We welcome the role that the labor movement played in bringing the ceasefire about through the National Labor Network for Ceasefire. The willingness of unions representing half of the U.S. labor movement to challenge Biden on his policy in Gaza represents a healthy development; more and more unions are recognizing that the U.S. government’s foreign policy is based on what American corporate interests want rather than the needs of working people in either the U.S. or other countries. Labor must continue forward in order to prevent further ethnic cleaning and genocide.
The labor movement has a crucial role to play in speaking out for a world where all working people can live in peace and dignity. UE intends to continue to play our historic role in advocating for an independent foreign policy for labor; for peace on the basis of equality, democracy, and human rights for the Palestinian and Israeli people; and for Palestinian self-determination.