-

CUPE: Canada must protect Palestinian health care workers, end genocide

OTTAWA, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Canadian Union of Public Employees is demanding urgent action to end Israeli military attacks on Palestinian first responders and health care workers in Gaza, and to stop the ongoing genocide.

CUPE represents 190,000 health care workers, including over 9,000 paramedics and first responders across Canada.

CUPE National President Mark Hancock has written to foreign affairs minister Mélanie Joly about the dire situation in Gaza. There are hundreds of documented Israeli military attacks on health care workers and health care facilities, including the recent execution of a convoy of 15 medical and emergency workers.

“Those emergency workers were killed while they were trying to save lives. These are absolutely horrifying attacks by Israel. Canada can and must act now to protect Palestinian health care workers and all Palestinian people in Gaza,” says Hancock. Israeli attacks have killed more than 1050 health care workers since October 7, 2023. More than 500 have been detained in Gaza and the West Bank. The ongoing bombardment has destroyed hospitals and other health care facilities.

CUPE is calling for a full and immediate two-way arms embargo on Israel. CUPE is also calling on the federal government to demand:

  • the immediate release of all Palestinian health care workers being held in detention;
  • the immediate suspension of attacks on health care workers and on hospitals, ambulances and health centres, and aid workers;
  • accountability for violations of international humanitarian and human rights law;
  • an immediate and permanent ceasefire; and
  • an end to the blockade of food, medical and humanitarian aid for Gaza.

CUPE’s letter reminds Joly of Canada’s responsibility under international law to “employ all reasonable means” to prevent and punish the crime of genocide.

“Gaza’s health care workers have served in impossible conditions for the last 18 months. We have witnessed their pain and suffering in countless devastating images and videos. How much misery will they and the Palestinian people have to endure before Canada finally lives up to its international obligations?” says CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer Candace Rennick.

Contacts

Hugh Pouliot
CUPE Communications
613-818-0067
hpouliot@cupe.ca

Industry:

Canadian Union of Public Employees

Release Versions
EnglishFrench

Contacts

Hugh Pouliot
CUPE Communications
613-818-0067
hpouliot@cupe.ca

More News From Canadian Union of Public Employees

CORRECTING and REPLACING “More than 700 nursing and PSW job cuts in Ottawa:” New report warns of longer wait-times and declining quality of care due to health care funding plan

OTTAWA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Day of conference should read: 10:00 a.m., Friday, February 13 (instead of 10 a.m., Wednesday, February 13). The updated release reads: “MORE THAN 700 NURSING AND PSW JOB CUTS IN OTTAWA:” NEW REPORT WARNS OF LONGER WAIT-TIMES AND DECLINING QUALITY OF CARE DUE TO HEALTH CARE FUNDING PLAN CUPE media conference on February 13 A new report warns that the provincial government’s funding plan for the next three years will have severe consequences for the health care system in...

New Alliance to raise the alarm on the offshoring of Canadian telecommunications jobs

OTTAWA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Representatives from the Canadian Telecommunications Workers Alliance – a coalition of unions representing tens of thousands of workers in the sector – will hold a press conference to launch their campaign to protect Canadian jobs from outsourcing, and to protect Canadians’ privacy and sovereignty. WHERE: OTTAWA – National Press Theatre, 180 Wellington Street, Room 325 WHEN: February 11, 9:30 AM WHO: Lana Payne, Unifor National President Marty Warren, United Steelworker...

CUPE 1328 Demands Clarity After TCDSB Signals End to School-Wide Child and Youth Workers

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CUPE 1328, representing more than 2,000 education workers at the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), is raising serious concerns following reports that school administrators have been advised that schools are no longer required to maintain a Child and Youth Worker (CYW) in every school. According to CUPE 1328, principals have been informed that youth work supports should be primarily assigned within special education programs, rather than operating in a sch...
Back to Newsroom