TRADE UNIONISTS voiced their solidarity with women journalists in Gaza today during the final day of the TUC Women’s Conference.

In a motion, the conference condemned the “atrocities breaching international law” in Palestine and backed calls for an independent investigation into the attacks and killings of journalists.

Mariam Elsayeh of the National Union of Journalists praised the solidarity from Britain for Palestinian unionists and activists, giving them the “strength to stand firm” against intimidation.

She told delegates that journalists in Gaza need protection and equipment, saying: “We need the ability to do our jobs safely.

“Yet even essential items like PPE are behind access in southern Gaza, where survival itself is a battle.

“[Trade unions must] encourage the UK government to take steps to protect women journalists in Gaza, advocate for the provision adequate maternity and mental health care for women and children in Gaza, uphold the ruling of the [International Criminal Court], suspend armed supplies to Israel, ensure compliance with international law and prevent a famine in Gaza.

“The Palestinian people refused to be displaced. They stand for Gaza despite starvation, despite the destruction, because they still hold hope [for] people like ourselves [to act].

“Let their struggle be acknowledged. Stand together to resist, persist [and] deliver hope to Gaza.”

Supporting the call, Angela Grant of the PCS union said that the world owed Palestinian journalists who have “put their lives on the line” for the truth.

“We can be arrested in this country for having the audacity to march for Palestine,” she told delegates.

“Freedom of speech in this country does not exist, and we have to stand firm behind every person that is oppressed in every country, whoever that may be.”

“We have to put our bodies in front of them, as the women of Palestine are doing so.”