Brussels, 29 December 2008 (ITUC OnLine) : The ITUC deplores the killing of dozens of innocent civilians and calls for an imediate cessation of violence, as Israel continues its attacks inside Gaza in response to the launching of rockets by Hamas, ending a six-month cease-fire.

"We support in full the UN Security Council’s call for both sides to cease hostilities. The cycle of attack and reaction must be replaced with dialogue, to bring a definitive end to the conflict and establish the basis for the co-existence of Israel and Palestine as two democratic states in peace", said ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder.

Some 300 Palestinians are believed to have lost their lives since Israel first responded to the launching of dozens of rockets into its territory. Several dozen civilians are said to be amongst those killed, while Gaza’s already over-stretched hospitals are stuggling to cope with the more than 1,000 injured, adding to an already pressing humanitarian crisis.

"The international community must bring real pressure to bear to ensure that Israel and Palestine step back from the cycle of violence and follow the path of dialogue. The UN, its Security Council members and all other countries which could use their influence to bring this about must do so as a matter of the utmost urgency", said Ryder.

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