Joint statement from French, British, and Canadian unions
In advance of the UN conference France is co-chairing, we unions representing millions of workers across France, the United Kingdom, and Canada urge our governments to formally recognise the State of Palestine now and to stand firm in their opposition to the atrocities committed in Gaza and the West Bank.
We welcome the recent joint statement by our heads of state calling for an immediate halt to Israel’s assault in Gaza and for unimpeded access to humanitarian aid.
These are critical first steps toward alleviating the suffering of civilians caught in the conflict.
Our governments rightly acknowledged that permanent forced displacement is a breach of international humanitarian law, and we welcome their opposition to settlement expansion and the recognition that it is illegal and undermines the viability of a Palestinian state.
However, words must be matched by action.
Given the urgency and scale of the crisis, we call on our governments to use every diplomatic, legal, and economic lever available to:
- Demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire;
- Ensure the Israeli government meets its obligations under international humanitarian law;
- Initiate a credible political process aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace
It’s time for our leaders to formally recognise the State of Palestine immediately.
As members of the G7, doing so would send a powerful signal, particularly in the lead-up to the UN conference co-chaired by France in mid-June.
The time for decisive action is now. The need for justice, peace, and recognition has never been more urgent.