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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nInjured Palestinians, including children, are brought to Nasser Hospital to receive medical treatment following Israeli attacks in Khan Yunis, Gaza on January 22, 2024. Photo by Belal Khaled\/Anadolu via Getty Images<\/p>\n\n\n\n This story originally appeared in Common Dreams<\/a> on Jan. 22, 2024. It is shared here with permission under a Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0) license.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n With over 25,000 Palestinians killed so far in the U.S.-backed Israeli assault of the Gaza Strip, the Service Employees International Union on Monday became the largest union in North America to join a growing coalition of labor groups calling for a cease-fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Join thousands of others who rely on our journalism to navigate complex issues, uncover hidden truths, and challenge the status quo with our free newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox twice a week<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSEIU\u2019s almost 2 million members believe that wherever violence, fear, and hatred thrive, working people cannot,\u201d said<\/a> Mary Kay Henry, the union\u2019s president, in a statement. \u201cWe condemn antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, and hate in all its forms around the world. Our union includes many members and their families\u2014Palestinian and Israeli, Jewish, Muslim, and Christian\u2014who have been impacted by the recent violence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs a union family strongly committed to justice and democracy, we believe all people across the globe deserve to live safely and free of fear, with dignity and respect for their human rights, as well as access to food, water, shelter, medicine, and other necessities,\u201d she continued. \u201cSEIU members understand that working people often feel the impact of war most deeply and bear the brunt of its terrible consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe call for an immediate cease-fire, the release of all hostages, and the delivery of lifesaving food, water, medicine, and other resources to the people of Gaza.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The SEIU leader condemned the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel, as well as the Israeli military\u2019s response, which has included \u201cwidespread attacks on innocent civilians, including the bombardment of neighborhoods, healthcare facilities, and refugee camps.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to killing and wounding tens of thousands of Palestinians, the war has displaced the vast majority of Gaza\u2019s 2.3 million residents, who are facing starvation and disease. Henry said that \u201cwe call for an immediate cease-fire, the release of all hostages, and the delivery of lifesaving food, water, medicine, and other resources to the people of Gaza.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur call for a cease-fire is a call for peace, rooted in the pain that SEIU members are feeling, from the Jewish member concerned for her son\u2019s safety in Tel Aviv, to the Muslim member who immigrated to this country from the Middle East to escape war and violence, to the hundreds of thousands of SEIU healthcare workers who see themselves in the healthcare workers in Gaza who have been killed trying to save lives,\u201d said Henry, a U.S. labor leader whose union also represents Canadians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n https:\/\/twitter.com\/GreektownUnited\/status\/1749457704278532181?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1749457704278532181%7Ctwgr%5E598a86b37d19021222fe433edc37ac804eb2806b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftherealnews.com%2Fseiu-becomes-largest-us-union-to-demand-gaza-cease-fire<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe call on elected leaders to come together to bring an end to the violence and demand a peaceful resolution that ensures both lasting security for the Israeli people and a sustained end to decades of occupation, blockades, and lack of freedom endured by the Palestinian people,\u201d Henry added. \u201cThis war must end, as it is expanding into a regional conflict. It is time for long-term solutions that will bring safety, peace, democracy, and justice to all in the region.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group in the United States, welcomed<\/a> the cease-fire demand from SEIU, which followed similar calls from the United Auto Workers<\/a>; American Postal Workers Union<\/a>; United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America<\/a>; and various<\/a> other unions<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe thank SEIU officials for taking a principled stand and demanding an end to the Israeli government\u2019s genocidal campaign in Gaza,\u201d said CAIR national executive director Nihad Awad. \u201cEvery day, more people in our nation and around the world are waking up to the reality of the Israeli government\u2019s crimes against humanity. It is time that our government does the same.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n U.S. Rep. Cori Bush<\/a> (D-Mo.)\u2014who spearheaded<\/a> a cease-fire resolution with Rep. Rashida Tlaib<\/a> (D-Mich.), the only Palestinian American in Congress\u2014declared<\/a> that \u201cevery day, our pro-peace, pro-humanity movement grows larger and stronger. Thank you SEIU for standing up for humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our destinies are tied & our pro-peace, pro-humanity movement is strong & growing daily.![\"Common](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/therealnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/cd_stacked_white_600.png?resize=600%2C150&ssl=1\")
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Grateful for the solidarity of our @SEIU<\/a> siblings calling for a #CeasefireNOW<\/a>, the release of all hostages, & the delivery of life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza. https:\/\/t.co\/XvX4DsIbcL<\/a><\/p>— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) January 22, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>