The Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) in London held a May Day panel discussed entitled ‘British & Irish Trade Unions on Palestine’ and focusing on the historic solidarity between trade unions and the Palestinian struggle.

The first speaker was Gerry Carrol, a People Before Profit politician and Socialist activist from Belfast, Northern Ireland, who has been a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Belfast West since 2016. Caroll also served as a Belfast City Councillor for the Black Mountain DEA from 2014 until 2016.

Onboard was also Austin Harney, who works in the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) that looks after the money of mentally incapacitated clients, within the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). He is on the PCS National Disabled Members’ Forum and the TUC Disabled Workers’ Committee. Although he was diagnosed as Autistic in his early childhood, and promoted Autism/Neurodiversity acceptance in the Civil Service, he represents all Disabled Members.

The speakers provided an urgent briefing on the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza and massacres committed against civilians.

They called for clear commitments from the international community to halt the genocide in Gaza and reiterated calls for a ceasefire and for the unconditional entry of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

They added that there should be clear sanctions against apartheid Israel, including the ending of all diplomatic and military aid by western governments. The war criminals at the head of the Israeli state also need to face prosecution through the International Criminal Court. Those responsible for the genocide in Gaza must be held responsible for their crimes.

As Israel’s genocidal machinery, bolstered by the support of the US, UK and the European Union, grinds on, trade unions in and outside the UK have called for a strike on May Day, in a step that shows that trade unions’ solidarity efforts with Palestine are intersectional, recognising and addressing the interconnectedness of struggles against racism, imperialism and capitalism and recognising that Palestine is central to anti-colonial, anti-racist and anti-imperialist struggles worldwide.

Watch the full panel discussion here:

https://www.facebook.com/returncentre/videos/2322912134579417/