GENEVA (AA) – Confederation of Hak Trade Unions (HAK-İŞ) demonstrated in support of Palestine in front of the United Nations (UN) Geneva Office. HAK-İŞ Chairman Mahmut Arslan, Memur-Sen Chairman Ali Yalçın, Turkish Kamu-Sen Chairman Önder Kahveci, representatives of unions from different countries who were in Geneva to attend the 114th International Labor Conference of the International Labor Organization (ILO), and many people and Turkish citizens attended the demonstration held in the square where the broken chair statue symbolizing the fight against armed violence against civilians is located.
Participants chanted “Free Palestine” slogans with the flags of Palestine, Turkey and other countries in their hands. In his speech here, HAK-İŞ Chairman Arslan thanked everyone who participated in the third support demonstration for Palestine and emphasized the importance of the support for this meeting from the government, unions and non-governmental organizations in Turkey, as well as international stakeholders. Reminding that Israel’s oppression against Palestinians dates back to long before October 2023, Arslan continued: “Our Palestinian brothers have been dealing with exiles, occupations, massacres, displacements and, in short, inhumane practices for approximately 80 years since the establishment of the Israeli terrorist state.
All these oppressions, oppressions, massacres and occupations took on a new aspect after October 7. In this new aspect, humanity is the conscience of humanity, “Everything in the name of international law and the international community has been applied to our Palestinian brothers by the murderer state and the murderer at its head (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu.” Arslan criticized the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), African Union, Arab League and other international organizations for remaining silent about the genocide in Palestine, as well as the destruction in which mosques, schools, hospitals and people’s homes were destroyed.
Drawing attention to the existence of those who remain silent about the massacre and genocide in Gaza, Arslan said, “Those who remain silent are at least as responsible as the Zionist killer state, and they will also be held accountable before history.” made his assessment. Arslan thanked everyone who filled the squares in different parts of the world to support Palestine, despite the silence of the international community.
Reminding that he joined the Global Sumud Fleet, which set out to break the embargo on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to the people there, and was later detained by Israel in international waters, Arslan said, “There was not even a pocket knife in the fleet, which could be considered a weapon, other than humanitarian aid. It was only to deliver humanitarian aid to our brothers in Gaza, to break the blockade in Gaza, to embrace our brothers in Gaza and to unlawfully prevent the oppression, cruelty, “We set out to end the occupation.” he said.
– “What Israel did was an example of banditry in international waters” Arslan stated that they embarked on a grueling, difficult but honorable journey, and reminded that the initiative, in which approximately 475 activists committed to the Palestinian cause from more than 50 countries took part, was blocked by Israeli soldiers before reaching the Palestinian territorial waters and Gaza, and said: “Unfortunately, our activists on the ships did not have any materials or weapons that would resemble military service, but unfortunately they went to our ships and killed all of us.
“What Israel did was an example of banditry in international waters. These bandits displayed a treacherous and immoral attitude in front of humanity by landing all our activists on military ships, using unnecessary torture, insults, curses, practices that do not suit human dignity, violence and even sexual assaults.”
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