European Trade Union Network for Justice in Palestine denounces the arbitrary arrest of Palestinian human rights defender and a BDS activist Mahmoud Nawajaa.
Nawajaa was abducted from his home by Israeli occupation forces on 30th July and has been held without charge or trial since. On Sunday, August 9th, Israeli Court prolonged his detention for another 8 days.
Mahmoud Nawajaa is a leading Palestinian human rights defender who is highly regarded in Palestine and around the world for his tireless and passionate advocacy for the rights of Palestinian people and for BDS as a means to help realise those rights.
Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement was launched in 2005 by the overwhelming majority of Palestinian unions, mass movements, women’s organizations, and campaigns. It calls for ending Israel’s occupation and apartheid regime and for realizing the UN-stipulated rights of Palestinian refugees, forcibly displaced since 1948, to return to their homes.
Numerous world’s most respected human rights advocacy groups like Amnesty International and Front Line Defenders has called for immediate and unconditional release of Mahmoud.
Irish Congress of Trade Unions also issued a statement and called for targeted sanctions to end Israel’s regime of oppression of the Palestinian people.
We, European Trade Union Network for Justice in Palestine – a network of 34 European trade union organisations representing 6 millions workers commit ourselves to pressure our governments to:
- immediately act to free Mahmoud and in line with the AI statement ensure the full protection for the right to BDS in Palestine and globally;
- call for accountability measures towards Israel for its flagrant violations of human rights and international law
In addition we call on ETUC (European Trade Union Confederation) and ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation) to do the same.
European Trade Union Network for Justice in Palestine Steering Committee