In Solidarity with the Palestinian People

International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

Today on the 29th November 2024, SWU and BASW mark the 46th International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. 

On this day of observance we specifically remember the more than 42,000 Palestinian civilians, mostly women and children, killed in the current conflict in Gaza (and the West Bank) in the last year, and the many thousands more injured and orphaned. 1.9 million people in Gaza – or about 90% of the population – have been displaced with no way to leave and are facing life threatening shortages of food, water, sanitation, and healthcare.

As a human rights-based profession, we cannot stay silent. As social workers we call for peace and safety for people in Palestine, Lebanon, and Israel. The ongoing violent escalation in the region cannot be allowed to become normalised.

We call on the UK government to exercise its leadership role and demand that the Israeli government comply with its international obligation to protect civilians in Gaza, the West Bank, and other occupied areas in the region – especially in the wake of the 19th July 2024 advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). We call for the UK government to end its complicity in the genocide of Palestinians by halting arms sales to Israel, to advocate for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and to join international efforts to ensure compliance with international law.

This is an update on prior joint statements from BASW and SWU:

SWU is an affiliate of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and supports the important work they do in the UK, including through their partnership with child rights organization Defence for Children International – Palestine (DCIP).

Palestine Solidarity Campaign would like to thank the Social Workers Union for affiliation to us, your solidarity with the Palestinian people is much appreciated. The last few months have presented the Palestinian people with the darkest moments in their history. Those in the Gaza Strip face a struggle to survive while Israeli violence and apartheid continues to blight the lives of all Palestinian people. In the face of these incredible hardships, Palestinians continue to demand their freedom and selfdetermination. The struggle of the Palestinian people continues to inspire millions who believe in the universal principles of freedom and justice around the world. PSC is continuing to demand a permanent and immediate ceasefire and an end to Israel’s killing of Palestinians. We must also insist that the root causes of injustice and denial of Palestinian rights must end. We are committed to organising every day to build a mass movement in support of Palestinians and their struggle for freedom - to ensure that one day human rights and international law will be upheld. The support of the Social Workers Union is central in the movement for justice and equality for the Palestinian people. Martial Kurtz Palestine Solidarity Campaign