What’s Happening in Gaza?

by Dr. Arcelita Imasa

I heard the Hawaii Workers Center has a position on what’s happening in Gaza. Can you please share? Why do we need to get involved if we are so far away?
– Reader

Dear Reader,

Thank you for asking this question. We appreciate that the community is reaching out and eager to learn about what’s happening in Gaza. Recently, the Hawaii Workers Center released a statement calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Below is the full statement:

The Hawaiʻi Workers Center joins with many unions, workers, and human rights organizations across the country and internationally in calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the protection of Palestinian rights.

At this point after weeks of heavy bombings, over 22,000 civilians have been killed in Gaza, many of them children and women. Thousands more have been injured and many thousands more are buried in the rubble. There is no safe place from the bombing by the Israeli government.

A permanent ceasefire would halt the daily death toll and provide an opening for a negotiated peace settlement. It could also free more hostages and bring about the release of over 6,000 Palestinians in Israeli military prisons, many held without charges.

The brutal seizure and occupation of Palestinian lands since 1948 and the expansion of Israeli settlements, in violation of international law, have eroded Palestinian lands and helped bring about groups like Hamas determined to resist Israel’s illegal expansion and end its existence.We at Hawaii Workers Center affirm that the Jewish people and all people, including Palestinians, deserve a world where they can live safely, joyfully, and without the constant threat of hate and violence.

The October 7th attack and slayings of over a thousand Israeli civilians by Hamas were despicable war crimes. But the Israeli government’s retaliatory response of massive bombardment of Gaza, supported and funded by the U.S. government, has been even more murderous and criminal.

It is disturbing to witness the current rise of both antisemitism and Islamophobia in the U.S. and globally, which the continued war is fueling.

This was most grotesquely exemplified by the recent murder of 6-year-old Palestinian youth Wadea al-Fayoume, and the killing of Samantha Woll, the head of the Isaac Agree Downtown Detroit Synagogue.

In Honolulu, authorities are now investigating a recent email threatening to place bombs in every Hawaiʻi synagogue. These threats and crimes of hatred against Jews and Muslims have been fed by the hostilities and killings in the Middle East.It is not in the interest of working people in this country to support the slaughter in Gaza by our government’s sending bombs, weapons, and artillery shells to Israel.

Over $3 billion of our hard-earned tax dollars go each year to supply Israel’s military. Those monies could be better used to provide housing, jobs, healthcare, and schools, and address the challenges of climate change.

There is also a clear danger that Israel’s invasion and incessant bombing campaign in Gaza could lead to a much wider conflict in the Middle East, a conflict that could involve more countries and cause even more death and destruction.Workers’ interests include not only winning higher pay and better living and working conditions but also securing a safer and peaceful world so all can prosper and fewer die from disasters and war.

An immediate and permanent ceasefire is crucial now, and our elected officials at local, state, and national levels should advocate for a permanent ceasefire and work to make it happen!Thank you for your concern for peace and solidarity with the People of Gaza.Sincerely,
Hawaiʻi Workers Center