February 1 2024

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) joins with unions around the world in welcoming the recent order from the International Court of Justice (ICJ). 

The ICJ has issued a crucial order calling on the government of Israel to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza and punish direct and public incitement to genocide. The ruling urges the immediate implementation of measures to ensure basic services and humanitarian assistance are provided to Palestinians in Gaza. 

The case was brought to the ICJ by the government of South Africa, and 15 out of 17 judges ruled in favour of the measures.

As a signatory to the United Nations Genocide Convention, Israel has an obligation to comply with the provisional measures in the ICJ ruling, as do Canada and 151 other nations. 

NUPGE reiterates its call for an immediate ceasefire as the devastating loss of civilians – many of them women and children – rises every day. Since the devastating attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, which claimed 1,200 lives, over 25,000 people have been killed during combat operations by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Gaza. More than a million people have been displaced, and thousands more are left injured. 

NUPGE additionally calls for:

• the immediate release of all hostages;
• the Canadian government to strongly urge the government of Israel to comply with the ICJ ruling;
• the Canadian government to clearly support an immediate ceasefire preventing further loss of life and suffering, bringing an end to the conflict while calling for a political solution that allows both Israel and Palestinian citizens to live in peace and dignity.