Shaher Saad: Israeli Occupation Has Destroyed the Future of Palestinian Workers

Shaher Saad, Secretary-General of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions, told the 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva that Israeli occupation policies—including preventing Palestinian workers from reaching their jobs, confiscating farmland, and demolishing industrial and economic facilities—have destroyed the future of hundreds of thousands of workers and inflicted severe damage on the national economy.

Saad highlighted the 2026 ILO Director-General’s report, which documented widespread violations by Israeli authorities and settlers, including seizure of thousands of acres of farmland, assaults on farmers, burning and bulldozing land, and demolitions of housing, agricultural, industrial, and economic facilities. These actions have devastated Palestinian production sectors and deprived thousands of workers of their livelihoods.

He noted that these policies coincide with ongoing settlement expansion and the establishment of dozens of new outposts in the West Bank, further worsening workers’ suffering and undermining economic stability. The report confirmed that the Palestinian economy faces an unprecedented crisis, particularly in Gaza, where the labor market has nearly collapsed. More than 250,000 workers lost their jobs, and unemployment has exceeded 85% amid widespread destruction and blockade.

Saad said unemployment in Palestine has surpassed 570,000 out of about 1.4 million workers, with workers losing over €7 billion in the past 32 months. More than 35,000 workers have been arrested or persecuted, while over 52 were killed. Israel has imposed more than 1,100 checkpoints and military gates in the West Bank, severely restricting movement of workers and goods and causing massive economic losses.

He stressed that this is not a temporary economic crisis but a systematic policy targeting Palestinian economic and social life. He called on the ILO and the international community to protect Palestinian workers, compensate them for losses, and restore their rights under international conventions and standards.

Saad praised the support of the ILO, the Arab Labour Organization, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the Arab Trade Union Confederation (ATUC), and other unions worldwide. He thanked the ILO Workers’ Group and international and Arab unions for backing Palestine’s bid to gain observer state status at the ILO.

He described the observer status as a historic achievement that strengthens Palestine’s presence in the organization and opens wider avenues to defend workers’ rights internationally. Concluding his speech, Saad reaffirmed Palestinians’ commitment to their legitimate national rights, foremost the establishment of an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and urged ILO committees to visit Palestine to witness the reality of violations on the ground.