London, June 7, IRNA – British trade unions are backing the launch of a global petition to world leaders, to make Israel accountable for its massacre of nine passengers on board the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in international waters.
The Trades Union Congress is calling on its eight million members to sign the petition, which calls for an immediate, international investigation into Israel’s massacre, to bring to justice those responsible and to lift its three-year siege of Gaza.
Last week, Britain’s largest union, Unite, also unanimously passed a motion “to vigorously promote a policy of divestment from Israeli companies” and a boycott of goods and services will be “similar to the boycott of South African goods during the era of apartheid”.
The global petition is being hosted by Avaaz.org. a new international online advocacy community aimed to bring “people-powered politics to global decision-making.”
The Avaaz community described the assault as an “outrageous use of lethal force to defend an outrageous and lethal policy — Israel’s blockade of Gaza, where two thirds of families don’t know where they’ll find their next meal,” it said.
“The UN, EU, and nearly every other government and multilateral organization have called on Israel to lift the blockade and, now, launch a full investigation of the flotilla raid,” it said
“But without massive pressure from their citizens, world leaders might limit their response to mere words — as they have so many times before. Let’s make the world’s outcry too loud to ignore,” said the advocacy group which has staff based in Rio de Janeiro, Geneva, New York, London, and Washington.
The mass petition is be delivered to the UN and world leaders, as soon as it reaches 200,000 signatures. Avaaz said it can demonstrate to those in power that “sound bites and press releases aren’t enough — that citizens are paying attention and demanding action.”