Public Services International calls on Israel and Hamas to accept the truce as proposed by the Secretary-General of the UN, Ban Ki-Moon, in order to end the violence before it becomes uncontrollable. Israel’s air and sea attacks on targets in Gaza have already killed or wounded hundreds of persons and the government has threatened to invade Gaza. Hamas is responsible for hundreds of rocket attacks causing fear in Israel even though the number of victims has been much more limited.

PSI General Secretary Peter Waldorff called on Israel and Hamas to “put an immediate end to the senseless violence in Gaza and Israel. We fully support the efforts of the UN and a number of governments to convince the two sides to end the conflict.”

“Violence is erecting new barriers to political solutions in the region. A truce can end the slaughter of innocent civilians. However, a truce is not enough. Progress needs to be made in the establishment of a Palestinian state as part of a stable, two-state solution. Mutual respect and recognition is essential if there is to be any hope of lasting peace based on social justice, the full respect of human rights, and democracy”, according to Waldorff.