UN Meeting Criticizes Israel’s Handling of Palestinian Workers

**International Labour Organization Calls for Restoration of Palestinian Workers’ Rights Amidst Israel-Hamas Conflict**

GENEVA – In a significant move, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has voiced strong criticism against the erosion of Palestinian labor rights in the wake of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The head of the ILO, Gilbert Houngbo, made a compelling appeal on Thursday for Israel to lift the newly imposed restrictions that have barred Palestinian workers from employment within its borders.

Since the outbreak of hostilities on October 7, the situation for Palestinian workers has deteriorated rapidly, with over half a million job losses reported. Israel’s decision to exclude approximately 200,000 Palestinians from its labor market for security reasons has drawn sharp criticism from the U.N. labor body, which has been monitoring the treatment of Palestinian workers for decades.

“This has been the hardest year for Palestinian workers since 1967,” stated Houngbo during a meeting in Geneva, referencing the year Israel took control of the West Bank, Arab East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. He highlighted the “decimation” of labor rights in his speech while presenting an ILO report on the working conditions of Palestinians, urging Israel to reopen its labor market to them.

The call for action was supported by Palestine’s Minister of Labour, numerous diplomats, including those from Egypt, and workers’ groups. One representative shared a poignant account of the dire conditions in Gaza, where over 36,000 lives have been claimed by Israel’s military operations, according to health authorities in Gaza.

The meeting saw a dramatic moment when dozens of delegates exited the U.N. meeting room as Israel presented its stance. Israeli delegate Yeela Cytrin attributed the exclusion of Palestinian workers to actions by Hamas, which targeted commuter routes in the attacks on October 7, resulting in 1,200 Israeli casualties and over 250 hostages, as per Israeli records.

Cytrin defended Israel’s position, stating, “The path to improving labor conditions does not lie in blind condemnation of Israel.” Meanwhile, the ILO, established post-World War One to foster adherence to international labor standards, has for the first time since its annual reporting began in 1980, issued prescriptive recommendations. These include a call for Israel to reopen its labor market and for the ILO to assist in Gaza’s recovery through job creation and social protection schemes for workers.

“The simple fact that the Palestinian people can have decent jobs back, it would help with the healing,” Houngbo told Reuters, emphasizing the critical role of employment in the region’s recovery process.

(Reporting by Emma Farge; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)

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