EMERGENCY RESOLUTION #1 : RESOLUTION IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE WORKERS AND PEOPLE OF PALESTINE

The Public Services International Asia Pacific Regional Conference (APRECON), meeting in September 8-11, 2025, Kathmandu Nepal

REITERATING our commitment to peace, justice and the defense of quality public services in our region and globally;

RECALLING the orders of the International Court of Justice in the case of South Africa v. Israel of 29 December 2023, which reflect a serious concern about the perpetration of crimes of genocide in Palestine and the subsequent advisory opinion of the ICJ as well as the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for war crimes including attacking civilian populations, for starvation as a method of warfare and crimes against humanity;

ALSO RECALLING that the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry[1] found that “Israel has implemented a concerted policy to destroy the health-care system of Gaza. Israeli security forces have deliberately killed, wounded, arrested, detained, mistreated and tortured medical personnel and targeted medical vehicles, constituting the war crimes of wilful killing and mistreatment and the crime against humanity of extermination.”

FURTHER RECALLING that the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Palestine and the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to Health have identified the systematic attacks on health workers and health facilities as “ ‘medicide,’ a sinister component of the intentional creation of conditions calculated to destroy Palestinians in Gaza which constitutes an act of genocide”[2]

NOTING that PSI congress in 2023 condemned the Hamas attack of 7 October 2023, called for the release of the hostages, and stated that collective punishment of the population of Gaza for Hamas action could not be justified.  

CONDEMNING the deliberate and repeated targeting of health workers and health facilities; noting that the WHO has recorded almost 1000 fatal attacks on health workers, another 1000 injured, and detention of more than 300 health workers, with evidence that health workers have been brutally tortured in detention. All health workers in Gaza are subjected to unimaginable working conditions. Sixty four percent of health facilities and not functioning, 35% are partially functioning and only 0.32% are fully functioning;

GRAVELY CONCERNED that the sustained military occupation and siege of Gaza continues to inflict massive civilian casualties and the widespread destruction of vital infrastructure, public services, schools, and water systems, denial and obstruction of humanitarian aid and consequent mass starvation and confirmed famine is rendering Gaza a mass grave;

HORRIFIED that at least 130 members of PSI Affiliates have been killed, including members of our health affiliates executive board and union leadership; 

DEEPLY DISTURBED that the Netanyahu cabinet has approved an attack on Gaza City and noting that the UN and International Red Cross have warned this will create "massive death and destruction"

We therefore

DEMAND an immediate and permanent ceasefire, lifting of the humanitarian aid blockade and restoration of UN access, an end to the unlawful occupation of Palestine, recognition of the right to self determination for Palestinian people, and for perpetrators of the crime of genocide and other war crimes to be held accountable;

ENDORSE PSI’s letter to the Hague Group which called for a Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) Program for Palestine and assurance that any reconstruction effort in Palestine be developed with and led by the Palestinian health and public services unions;

URGE our governments to become members of the “Hague Group” at the UN General Assembly in September and take measures to;

-       Prevent the provision or transfer of arms, munitions, military fuel, related military equipment, and dual-use items to Israel

-       Prevent the transit, docking, and servicing of vessels at any port…. in all cases where there is a clear risk of the vessel being used to carry arms, munitions, military fuel, related military equipment, to Israel

-       Commence an urgent review of all public contracts, to prevent public institutions and funds from supporting directly or indirectly, the Israeli military.

-       Comply with obligations to ensure accountability for the most serious crimes under international law, through robust, impartial and independent investigations and prosecutions at national or international levels, to ensure justice for all victims and the prevention of future crimes.

-       Support universal jurisdiction mandates, to ensure justice for victims of international crimes committed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

EXTEND our SOLIDARITY to affiliates and workers in Palestine who continue to deliver vital public services without access to medical supplies, equipment, or safety guarantees, and who continue to deliver care amidst bloodied rubble despite the very real risk of being killed. We recognise their extraordinary courage and commitment and

COMMIT OURSELVES to campaign for these demands and to mobilise support for our affiliates when they are able to rebuild their unions and public services.

Submitted by:

Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK), Philippines

Australian Services Union (ASU) NSW / ACT Branch

Maldives Health Professional Union (MHPU)

Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union (KPTU), Korea

Korean Health & Medical Workers' Union (KHMU), Korea

[1] UNGA A/79/232, Report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, 11 September 2024.

[2] https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/08/un-experts-appalled-relentless-israeli-attacks-gazas-healthcare-system