Ref: 45/2007
Date: 25 June 2007
Time: 12:30 GMT
PCHR Calls for the Evacuation the Headquarters of Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions from the Executive Force
PCHR calls upon the Executive Force to evacuate the headquarters of the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) to be handed to the PGFTU’s worker leadership to be able to resume its services to workers as soon as possible.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, on Wednesday, 13 June 2007, a number of militants from the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the military wing of Hamas) and the Executive Force stormed the PGFTU’s headquarters in al-Saftawi neighborhood in the north of Gaza City and seized control over it. The 5-storey building includes offices of the PGFTU and Palestine workers radio station. The first and fifth floors of the building, where the radio station is based, were damaged during the raid. The Executive Force has continued to control the building, receiving clients in it.
PGFTU is an independent association that provides social services to Palestinian workers. It includes 14 legal unions of workers: General Union of Public Services Workers; General Union of Health Workers; General Union of Educational Services Workers; General Union of Tourist Services Workers; General Union of Agricultural Workers; General Union of Texture and Spinning Workers; General Union of Food Industries Workers; General Union of Engineering, Metal and Electric Industries Workers; General Unions of Municipalities Workers; General Union o Public Transportation Workers; General Union of Construction Workers; General Union of Communication Workers; General Union of Bank and Finance Workers; and General Union of Public Employees.
This attack came in the context of the latest fighting between Hamas and Fatah movements in the Gaza Strip. PCHR has documented scores of attacks by the two parties against civil society organizations in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank by the two parties in the context of their fighting.
PCHR is presently making efforts to ensure the evacuation of the headquarters to allow the PGFTU’s worker leadership to resume its activities, and:
1) Reiterates its call for the Executive Force and Hamas to immediately evacuate the PGFTU’s headquarters to allow the PGFTU’s worker leadership to resume its services to workers;
2) Calls upon Hamas and Fatah movements to neutralize national and non-governmental organizations in the conflict, stop attacks on those organizations and maintain their independence, freedom and safety; and
3) Stresses that establishing syndicates, unions, associations, clubs and public institutions is a constitutional right ensured by the Palestinian Basic Law.
