The Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU), in a press release Thursday, called upon the international human rights organizations to “stop the destruction and war against the Palestinian people in Gaza.” “The Gaza health ministry has confirmed the death of over 1373 Palestinians so far in the besieged strip since Israel began its relentless assault on July 8th, the release said.

An injured Palestinian child lies in Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City following an attack on an UNRWA school in Jabaliya, July 30, 2014 (Photo: Activestills)

“Crimes committed by the State of Israel and its leadership continue against Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the Occupied Territories. Day by day the world wakes up to watch and observe new massacres being committed by the occupation forces against unarmed Palestinian civilians, most of whom are children, women and elderly people,” added the statement.

“The Israeli heartless machine which has destroyed more than 2929 innocent people’s homes, which has displaced more than 200.000 civilians, has left them without any shelters or protection or even any were to hide.”

“Most of them have walked and fled to medical centers, hospitals and UNRWA schools for protection, but these facilities have also been targeted by the occupation forces.”

“Yesterday evening, the Al Quds hospital in the centre of Gaza was shelled without a reason. This has increased the number of deaths during the 23rd day since the start of the war on Gaza, to over 1373 martyrs and more than 7700 causalities among them with life treating injuries.”

The PGFTU went on: “[Israel]’s vain attempt to cover these atrocities and crimes by using false media and the weak excuse of the United States and other Israeli allies “that this war is the right of Israel to defend its self “is regarded as a blow on the forehead to humanity, and all the believers and the defenders of the simplest human rights and the right to live in peace.”

“We call all governments and international bodies to abide by their responsibilities mentioned in international law and the human rights agreements including the Geneva Convention and the UN resolutions.”

They “should also call for an urgently UN security council meeting to bring these people responsible for war crimes to the international crimes court to be trailed and punished for committing such crimes against humanity, including the refusal of the Israel government to accept the cease fire and human truce for five hours for the evacuation of the bodies of martyrs and injured people from the civilian districts, which were targeted by the occupation,” said the release.

“The Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions represent the Palestinian people and through our voices call again for your values, struggles, justice, faith and the right of our people for their freedom and to live in dignity, away from the oppression of the occupation and their aggressive practices.”

“To all friends and colleagues in international and Arabic trade union organizations, we appeal to you to raise your voices and campaign against what is happening against our Palestinian people in Gaza. We [call for] continuing the wide and different events, such as demonstrations and lobbying, putting pressure on your governments and international public opinion in order to stop this barbaric war against our people and support the Palestinians in their struggles, and protect them to end the occupation and establishing the national and free independent state of Palestine.”

“We also confirm that our people, all of its national institutions, and active forces will not be stopped by those crimes and massacres. We will continue the struggle for their freedom and obtain their social and political national rights … to assure that the Palestinian people should have their legal right to struggle which is guaranteed by all the international convention.” “Palestinians today need effective solidarity, not charity,” concluded the Palestinian workers’ federation.